Our city of Minneapolis has gone up in flames and protest since the execution by police began circulating. This comes on the heels of the shooting death of mother-of-three Renee Nicole Good by federal agents. Just a week later, the same community was again rocked when yet another federal agent shot a Venezuelan immigrant. Daily protests have occurred in not just Minneapolis, but Saint Paul. These protests are focusing the Department of Homeland Security’s increased enforcement against immigrants.
Responding to the growing tensions, DHS intervened. Then in the wake of that, they sent more than 2,000 of their own federal officers into that very area. This escalation has fueled a series of protests, with community members expressing their outrage over the actions of federal agents. The protests have grown, and with them, the desire of those turning out to see that there is real justice and accountability after these shootings.
Into this climate of animosity, Jake Lang—a Wisconsin man with a history of extremist far-right beliefs—planned an “anti-fraud” rally outside Minneapolis City Hall. His public demonstration included virulently anti-Islam and anti-Somali rhetoric. If anything, this demonstration proved that support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is deeply unpopular, and it drew a meager handful of around ten supporters. The rally was rapidly overtaken in momentum by a massive counter-protest. Hundreds of demonstrators flooded the venue to contest Lang’s free speech.
And within an hour, counter-protesters had sent Lang’s supporters—with their murderous, racist plans—fleeing in panic back to a nearby hotel. In the midst of this wild confrontation, Lang was allegedly stabbed, though his protective vest saved him from significant damage. Minneapolis police already knew that Lang had been promoting the stabbing on social media. Yet, based on the frightening experience they had, they failed to submit an official report.
Minneapolis is already receiving national attention. This comes on the heels of a federal judge’s ruling which stated that immigration officers do not have the power to detain or gas peaceful protesters who are not blocking law enforcement. This ruling provided a basis for monitoring officers amidst the current federal agent occupation in Minnesota.
Former President Donald Trump escalated the chaos even further with a brazen threat. He pledged to use the Insurrection Act and send in U.S. troops to Minnesota if state leaders failed to quell the protests. He repeatedly insulted the community, referring to it as “garbage.” He too called Renee Nicole Good a “domestic terrorist”—but in both of these widely reported incidents, he provided no justification for that designation.
The unrest has led to a federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. They want to know what Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are doing. This particular inquiry looks into claims that they obstructed federal enforcement of federal laws by making unequivocally misleading public statements about the continuing protests.
As tensions continue to heat up in Minneapolis. Community leaders and activists are calling for a reexamination of federal enforcement tactics and are demanding more transparency in law enforcement operations. The compounded effect of these series of events has caused many residents to feel unsafe and worried about the direction in which their community is heading.
