Hundreds of anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis clashed with and drove off members of a smaller far-right group that had vowed to march in an immigrant neighborhood on Saturday.
The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions in the city in Minnesota state following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal immigration agent earlier this month.
Demonstrators chanting against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol gathered near City Hall and quickly pressed the rival group toward a municipal building before forcing them to retreat to a nearby hotel.
Water balloons and snowballs were thrown at the right-wing demonstrators in weather that reached -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) with the wind chill.
Police kept their distance and no serious injuries were reported.
Who is behind the pro-ICE rally?
Right-wing influencer Jake Lang, who organized the pro-ICE rally, later claimed on social media he was stabbed, but Minneapolis police said no report was filed and they received no injury complaints.
Lang is one of more than 1,500 people pardoned by US President Donald Trump after their criminal convictions related to the January 6, 2021, riot on the US Capitol. He faced multiple charges, including assaulting a police officer with a baseball bat.
The right-wing social media personality, who recently announced plans to run for US Senate in Florida, is known for making anti-Muslim and antisemitic comments.
Ahead of his appearance, Lang had posted on social media that he intended to "burn a Quran" on the steps of City Hall. It did not appear that he actually burnt a copy of the Muslim holy book.
Lang had posted on social media that he intended to "burn a Quran" on the steps of City HallImage: Jim Vondruska/AFP/Getty Images
Pro-ICE rallies in Minneapolis have often targeted the Somali immigrant population in Minneapolis, most of whom are Muslim.
What are the anti-ICE protesters saying?
The anti-ICE rally was organized by the People's Action Coalition Against Trump.
Residents had vowed to blockade the neighborhood and not let the marchers into the area after pro-ICE protesters announced their plans to march to where many Somali immigrants live.
"We're out here to show Nazis and ICE and DHS and MAGA you are not welcome in Minneapolis," protester Luke Rimington told AP news agency. "Stay out of our city, stay out of our state. Go home."
The city has witnessed heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal immigration agent earlier this monthImage: Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo/picture alliance
Minnesota's leadership at odds with Trump
Trump has sent thousands of immigration agents into the Minneapolis area, citing alleged misuse of federal funds and singling out the state's Somali immigrant community.
Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz has mobilized the National Guard to support law enforcement in the state, officials said in a statement.
The state's Democratic leadership has clashed with the Trump administration over the crackdown, with the Justice Department opening an investigation into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey saying they have impeded federal immigration enforcement through their public statements.
Meanwhile, a US judge restricted federal agents on Friday from interfering with peaceful protesters, even as Trump backed away from a threat of invoking the Insurrection Act over the demonstrations.
Tens of thousands protest in Minnesota after ICE killing
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Curated by Marcus Thompson
