Violent clashes have broken out in Minnesota, with anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) protesters even accused of attempting to stab a counter-demonstrator.
Hundreds of demonstrators opposing Ice descended on downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, overwhelming a small contingent of counter-protesters and driving them from the area.
The anti-Ice crowd gathered near City Hall, brandishing placards and chanting demands for federal immigration agents to leave the city.
Within minutes, scores of protesters had pushed roughly 10 pro-Ice demonstrators against the exterior of the municipal government centre.
Jake Lang, who received a presidential pardon following his criminal conviction for participating in the January 6 Capitol attack, had organised what he termed an “anti-fraud” march.
Approximately an hour into the duelling demonstrations, the vastly outnumbered pro-Donald Trump group hastily departed for a nearby hotel, pursued by hundreds of counter-protesters hurling insults and demanding they leave Minneapolis.
Police kept their distance throughout the confrontation, allowing the opposing groups to face off without direct intervention.
Following the day’s events, Lang posted on social media claiming someone had attempted to stab him during an altercation, asserting that his protective vest had prevented the blade from causing injury.
Jake Lang was targeted after he organised what he termed an “anti-fraud” march
|
REUTERS
Jake Lang claimed an anti-Ice protester attempted to stab him
|
REUTERS
Minneapolis police said they were aware of Mr Lang’s social media statement but had received no official report from him.
The department said no victims had come forward to report injuries connected to the protests.
Officers noted camera footage appeared to show some individuals who may have sustained injuries, but those people had departed the scene before police could make contact with them.
Video footage captured Mr Lang screaming into a microphone: “You’re being replaced! Do you not understand you’re being replaced!”
MORE ON DONALD TRUMP’S AMERICA
Officers noted camera footage appeared to show some individuals who may have sustained injuries
|
REUTERS
Police said those injured in violent confrontations had not reported the incidents to the authorities
|
REUTERS
He also shouted “we deserve a future for white Americans” and “send the Somalis back.”
The right-wing influencer had pledged to burn a Quran on the steps of Minneapolis City Hall but ultimately did not carry out the threat.
At one point, an agitator performed a Nazi salute directly in Mr Lang’s face.
The confrontation unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a US citizen and mother of three, by an Ice agent 10 days earlier.
Minnesota residents have been protesting against the deployment of Ice officers to the state
|
REUTERS
Anti-Ice protests have grown in numbers over the past two weeks
|
REUTERS
The Department of Homeland Security says the immigration enforcement officer was struck by the vehicle and used his gun in self-defence.
Roughly 3,000 Ice and Border Patrol agents have flooded into Minneapolis and St Paul in recent weeks.
President Trump has cited a scandal involving stolen federal welfare funds as justification for the massive deployment, with his administration repeatedly singling out Minnesota’s Somali community.
The standoff has placed Minnesota’s Democratic leadership in direct conflict with the Trump administration, which has launched a Justice Department investigation into Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
