Protesters in Minneapolis have smashed the glass entrance of a federal courthouse, hours after a woman was shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in the city.
Courthouse Under Siege Following Fatal Shooting
Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse, banging on its doors and chanting "ICE out now!" The unrest was captured in footage shared on social media by Mercado Media. The protest was a direct response to the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot three times in the face by an ICE agent after she reportedly ignored demands to exit her car and attempted to flee.
In one video, a protester appearing to wear a keffiyeh—a traditional Middle Eastern scarf often worn to show solidarity with Palestine—is seen kicking and cracking a glass door at the courthouse entrance. However, the act of vandalism was not universally supported within the crowd. Another individual from the group is heard telling the man to "wait" and questioning his actions, saying, "what are you doing bro? You can't do that s**t."
Diverging Narratives and Escalating Tensions
The incident has sparked a fierce war of words between local and federal authorities. The Trump administration has defended the shooting as justified. On his Truth Social platform, former President Donald Trump described the deceased driver as "very disorderly" and claimed she "viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin went further, calling Good's actions an "act of domestic terrorism" and alleging she "weaponized her vehicle."
In stark contrast, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has urged the public not to believe this "propaganda machine." While affirming the right to protest, he pleaded for demonstrations to remain peaceful to avoid giving federal authorities a pretext for a harsher crackdown. "I feel your anger. I'm angry. They want to show, we can't give it to them," Walz stated.
The protests have included several other acts of defiance:
- Some individuals threw snowballs at ICE officers.
- Flags bearing the acronym 'FTP' (F**k The Police) were waved in the streets.
- Instances of burning or hanging the American flag upside down were reported.
- Federal agents responded by dousing crowds with tear gas and pepper spray.
Echoes of 2020, But a Different Scale
The shooting occurred less than a mile from where George Floyd was killed in 2020, an event that triggered widespread riots causing an estimated $500 million in property damage. While current tensions are undeniably high, the scale of the reaction has, so far, not reached the levels seen four years ago.
The protest at the courthouse was just one of several that have erupted across Minneapolis since Wednesday's fatal shooting. As the city remains on edge, the conflicting official narratives ensure that the fallout from this incident is far from over.
