BREAKING: ‘Jonathan Ross GoFundMe’ Sparks Urgent Legal Questions After ICE Shooting Of Renee Good
The name on a crowdfunding pitch can travel faster than the facts. Today, talk of a “Jonathan Ross GoFundMe” tied to the fallout from the ICE shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis is colliding with a hard legal reality. What you call a fundraiser, and what it funds, matters. So do the rights of donors, the duties of platforms, and the power of the state to investigate.
What Happened, And Why Words Matter
Renee Good was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. The shooting triggered immediate scrutiny. Multiple investigations are now in motion to test whether the use of force was justified. Officials are reviewing footage, reports, and witness accounts. Protesters are demanding transparency and independent oversight.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem called Good’s actions “domestic terrorism.” That label carries big political weight. In law, it carries much less. There is no standalone federal crime of domestic terrorism. The term is a definition in federal code, not a charge a prosecutor files by itself. That gap between rhetoric and law is where crowdfunding now sits.
Domestic terrorism is a definition, not a standalone criminal charge. Labels do not change the rights of donors or organizers by themselves.
Is A ‘Jonathan Ross GoFundMe’ Legal?
Crowdfunding after a high profile use of force is common. People raise money for families, lawyers, medics, and community support. A page branded as a “Jonathan Ross GoFundMe,” or any similar fundraiser, falls under basic rules.
First, donors have First Amendment rights. Giving money to express support for a cause or a family is protected speech and association. Courts have long recognized that principle. Support, even if unpopular, is not a crime.
Second, the line is intent and use. It is illegal to fund specific crimes. Federal law bans material support to foreign terrorist groups, not to domestic movements. If money is used to plan violence or buy illegal weapons, that is a crime. If it pays for lawyers, vigils, counseling, or funeral costs, it is lawful.
Third, platforms set their own rules. GoFundMe and similar sites remove campaigns that promote harm or fraud. They can ask for proof of identity and beneficiaries. They can freeze or refund money if a page violates policy.
Fraud, Identity, And State Oversight
Confusion grows fast after a deadly incident. Names get borrowed. Images get reused. Minnesota law treats deceptive solicitations as consumer fraud. The Minnesota Attorney General can investigate fundraising scams. Prosecutors can bring charges for theft by swindle. Payment processors can hand over records with a proper subpoena or warrant.
If a “Jonathan Ross GoFundMe” claims to support the Good family, it should show a clear path for funds. That can include a family representative, a known attorney, or a verified nonprofit. If it claims to fund legal defense or protest support, it should disclose who controls the money and how it will be spent.
Verify before you give. Scam pages appear after high profile incidents. Once funds move, recovery can be slow.
The Investigations And Your Rights
Accountability is not optional here. The ICE shooting will trigger multiple reviews. Expect involvement from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and local prosecutors. Civil rights investigators can review whether force violated federal law.
Citizens have tools. You can request records from federal agencies under the Freedom of Information Act. You can seek local records under Minnesota’s Data Practices Act. You can attend public meetings. You can record police in public, as long as you do not interfere. You can protest, subject to time, place, and manner rules. If police restrict protest routes or seize gear, they must cite lawful grounds.
Why The “Terrorism” Label Changes The Stakes
Calling conduct terrorism can chill speech. Donors may fear that giving will put them on a list. Courts have rejected that chill when government cannot show a real threat. The state still must follow the law. Investigators need cause, and often a warrant, to grab detailed donor data. Broad fishing expeditions face legal pushback.
If a fundraiser crosses into planned violence, that is different. Prosecutors can charge conspiracy or aiding and abetting. Evidence, not a label, decides that line.
Before You Donate
Take 60 seconds to protect yourself and your impact.
- Confirm the organizer’s identity and link to beneficiaries.
- Look for updates, receipts, or a named attorney or nonprofit.
- Read the platform’s guarantee and refund policy.
- Use a credit card for stronger dispute rights.
The Policy Path Ahead
This case is bigger than one page or one name. It tests how the federal government uses force in civil communities, and how states protect the public from fraud and fear. It could push Congress to demand clearer use of force rules for ICE. It could press platforms to verify crisis fundraisers faster. It may prompt state attorneys general to standardize donor disclosures for emergency campaigns.
The public outcry is a demand, not a trend. People want facts, oversight, and safety. That includes the right to gather, to give, and to grieve without being painted as criminals. The law already draws that line. Now officials must follow it, and platforms must enforce it, while communities keep eyes on both. ⚖️
