Perspective: Water into Wine

Democracy vs. authoritarianism has proven to be the rising topic of concern since the 2024 election of Donald Trump. While many Americans remain divided in their views, government-fostered division is a traditional tactic used to stir divisiveness in a growing authoritarian society.

Here in Carrboro, where some residents affectionately call themselves Carrboreans, the fight for democratic values has taken visible form. In recent weeks, there has been an increase in protests across the town and in Chapel Hill, where residents have organized demonstrations in opposition of federal policies that have hurt our country and society.

 The current move by the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, to deploy ICE agents to Minneapolis, resulted in the murder last week of a mother, wife, and community leader, Renee Nicole Good, who was fighting for the rights of her community. Horrific footage of her shooting by an ICE agent has been spread globally and ICE protests have ramped up while the number of ICE agents has also increased in Minnesota from a couple hundred to over 2,000, making this the largest anti-immigration operation ever. On January 12, Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison, filed a lawsuit against the DHS to block ICE's continued efforts to deport community members.

The most recent protest, “ICE Out For Good,” a national event that honored Good and all others affected by DHS, was held at Carrboro Town Commons on January 10. Led by founders and organizers from Indivisible Orange County NC, Trisha Lester and Julie Pace, the event was organized in less than 24 hours and drew an estimated 477 Carrboreans  protesting against the tragic events following ICE deployments in U.S. cities. Protesters convened at Town Commons and marched through Carrboro to Weaver Street Market, then circled back with many protestors repeating the route multiple times. Trisha Lester said, “I wasn’t surprised, but we were extremely pleased that so many people came out to show their concern about how ICE is operating. Agents have no accountability and are acting with impunity which is not legal or morally right and they are getting away with it because Kristi Noem is a 'yes' woman to President Trump.”

Renee Good’s murder was a day after the five-year anniversary of Trump supporters storming the Capitol, terrorizing Capitol policemen, government officials, and even trampling some of their own as a protest against the election of Joe Biden.

Indivisible Orange County NC and the community of Carrboro see a need; the need to warn and support our local community is now. If we don’t continue to stand up for our rights, we may lose them. 

“For Renee Nicole Good Killed by I.C.E. on January 7, 2026” 

by Amanda Gorman

They say she is no more,

That there her absence roars,

Blood-blown like a rose.

Iced wheels flinched & froze.

Now, bare riot of candles,

Dark fury of flowers,

Pure howling of hymns.

If for us she arose,

Somewhere, in the pitched deep of our grief,

Crouches our power,

The howl where we begin,

Straining upon the edge of the crooked crater

Of the worst of what we’ve been.

Change is only possible,

& all the greater,

When the labour

& bitter anger of our neighbors

Is moved by the love

& better angels of our nature.

What they call death & void,

We know is breath & voice;

In the end, gorgeously,

Endures our enormity.

You could believe departed to be the dawn

When the blank night has so long stood.

But our bright-fled angels will never be fully gone,

When they forever are so fiercely Good.