Philadelphia Resident Confronts City Council Over ‘Selective Outrage’ on Crime Victims
A heated exchange erupted at a Philadelphia City Council meeting this week when a local activist confronted city leaders, accusing them of prioritizing political narratives over the victims of violent crime. During the public comment session, John McCauley criticized Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Jamie Gauthier for their public mourning of Renee Good—a woman killed in a confrontation with federal agents—while allegedly ignoring victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
McCauley’s comments centered on what he described as a double standard in how the council chooses which tragedies to highlight.
“I sit here in disgust as I watch Kendra Brooks, Jamie Gauthier, hold up pictures of a domestic terrorist, Renee Good,” McCauley stated from the podium. “I’ve never seen her put up a picture of Dacara Thompson, a 19-year-old who was raped and murdered by an illegal alien and thrown over a bridge. I never seen her put up a picture of Laken Riley… I never seen her put up a picture of Larisha Thompson, a mother.”
When City Council President Kenyatta Johnson attempted to interject, asking the speaker to stick to the resolution at hand, McCauley pushed back, asserting his First Amendment rights and insisting the topics were connected. “I named two black women, by the way,” he added, referring to the Thompson victims. “And y’all sit here and pander to white liberal women like Renee Good.”
Background on the Cases Mentioned
The confrontation referenced several specific and distinct cases that have made national headlines:
Renee Good: A 37-year-old woman shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. Her death occurred during a federal operation and sparked significant protests against immigration enforcement agencies. Council members had reportedly displayed her photo in solidarity with those protesting her death.
Dacara Thompson: A 19-year-old from Maryland whose body was found near Route 50 in September 2025. Authorities charged Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, with her murder. Investigators revealed troubling details, including that the suspect had been previously released after a DUI charge despite an ICE detainer.
Larisha Thompson: A 40-year-old mother of two killed in Lancaster, South Carolina, in May 2025. Six undocumented immigrants were charged in connection with her death, which police described as a random botched robbery while she was driving to meet friends.
Laken Riley: A 22-year-old nursing student killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus. Her death became a flashpoint in the national immigration debate after an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela was charged with her murder.
Council Context and Objections
The friction at the meeting highlights a broader tension within city leadership regarding Philadelphia’s status as a “Sanctuary City.” Supporters of the policy, including many on the council, argue that local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement erodes trust in immigrant communities and does not effectively reduce crime. They maintain that highlighting cases like Renee Good’s is essential to holding federal agencies accountable for use of force.
Conversely, critics like McCauley argue that these policies shield criminal offenders and that city officials are ignoring the collateral damage inflicted on American citizens. The interruption by Council President Johnson was procedural, intended to keep public comments focused on the specific legislative items on the agenda, a standard rule in council meetings that frequently clashes with the wide-ranging nature of public grievances.
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