Leaders in Minnesota have called for peaceful demonstrations as protests erupted across the nation following the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis and the shooting of two protesters in Portland, Oregon.
Minneapolis Protests Turn Violent
A protest outside a Minneapolis hotel on Friday night drew approximately 1,000 people and turned violent, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. Demonstrators threw ice, snow, and rocks at officers, resulting in minor injuries to one officer who was struck with a piece of ice. Twenty-nine people were cited and released.
Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized that while most protests have been peaceful, those who damage property or endanger others will be arrested. He attributed the violence to “agitators that are trying to rile up large crowds,” and suggested it was a tactic sought by President Donald Trump, who has called for increased immigration enforcement.
Calls for Peace and Accusations Against Trump
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz echoed Frey’s call for peaceful demonstrations. “Trump sent thousands of armed federal officers into our state, and it took just one day for them to kill someone,” Walz posted on social media. “Now he wants nothing more than to see chaos distract from that horrific action. Don’t give him what he wants.”
The demonstrations are occurring as the Department of Homeland Security carries out what it calls its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities. The Trump administration has stated that both shootings were acts of self-defense against drivers who allegedly “weaponised” their vehicles against officers.
Nationwide Demonstrations and ICE Facility Access
Protests have been scheduled in cities and towns across the country, including Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Florida, many under the banner “ICE Out for Good.” Indivisible, a social movement organization, organized protests in all 50 states last year and is coordinating many of the current demonstrations.
In Minneapolis, migrant rights groups are planning a demonstration at Powderhorn Park to celebrate the life of Renee Good, the 37-year-old woman shot on Wednesday, and to call for an “end to deadly terror on our streets.” Protests in the neighborhood have largely remained peaceful, unlike the unrest following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
City police have responded to reports of cars abandoned after their drivers were apprehended by immigration enforcement, in some cases leaving dogs inside the vehicles. Authorities are receiving 911 calls alerting them to ICE activity, arrests, and abandoned vehicles throughout the city.
Congressional Access Denied
On Saturday morning, three Minnesota congresswomen – Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig – attempted to tour the ICE facility in Minneapolis but were asked to leave after approximately 10 minutes. The representatives accused ICE agents of obstructing Congress’s oversight duty and violating federal law.
A federal judge last month temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing policies that limit congressional visits to immigration facilities, following a lawsuit filed by 12 members of Congress challenging ICE’s visitor policies.
The Trump administration has deployed over 2,000 federal officers to Minnesota as part of a sweeping crackdown linked to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. Some of these officers were redirected from an operation in Louisiana.
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