What began as one franchise’s attempt to make a statement in the chaos following Renee Nicole Good’s fatal shooting has spiraled into a national proxy war. The security guard’s smug insistence on “rules and regulations” turned a local controversy into a symbol of perceived contempt for law enforcement. For many on the right, that “No ICE” sign didn’t just reject federal agents; it rejected them, their values, and their belief in border security.
Online, the reaction hardened quickly into economic warfare. References to “Bud Light treatment,” calls to block drive-thrus, and vows to “never buy their garbage again” weren’t just about hamburgers. They were warnings. In a country where every purchase is now a political act, one fast-food counter became another front line. McDonald’s can remove a sign. It cannot so easily erase the feeling that, once again, a familiar brand chose a side—and it wasn’t yours.