Popular right-wing commentator Nick Sortor was involved in a violent altercation in Minneapolis on Sunday, resulting in the theft of his $1,000 camera by a group of protesters. Dramatic footage of the incident has circulated online, highlighting the escalating tensions in the city.
Camera Snatched in Cedar Riverside Confrontation
The incident occurred in the Cedar Riverside neighbourhood, an area with a significant Somali-American community. In video shared by conservative journalist Cam Higby, the 27-year-old Sortor is seen chasing a female protester to her vehicle as she attempts to flee with his equipment.
Sortor was then dragged several feet along the street, clinging to the car door before the woman managed to wrestle the camera from his grasp and drive away. The influencer later posted an image of his injured hand on social media platform X.
Covering Unrest After Fatal ICE Shooting
Sortor was in Minneapolis to document the ongoing unrest that followed the fatal shooting of 37-year-old protester Renee Good on January 7. Good was shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a federal immigration operation.
In his posts, Sortor billed the group involved as 'Somali thugs' and claimed they had been following him and his team all day. 'NOBODY bothered helping,' he wrote, using the event to criticise the state of law and order in the Twin Cities.
Local Police Response and Refusal to Leave
Local law enforcement informed Sortor they were taking the incident seriously. However, in another clip, officers are seen recommending he leave the protest area to 'keep the peace,' while acknowledging they could not force him to do so.
Sortor, who has 1.4 million followers, defiantly refused. 'NO. REFUSING to arrest Somali thieves is EXACTLY WHY America is in this situation to begin with,' he responded. 'I’m DOUBLING DOWN, and I WILL NOT LEAVE.'
Broader Context and FBI Investigation
The protests Sortor was covering began gaining momentum after a December YouTube video from commentator Nick Shirley alleged a $100 million fraud scheme involving Somali child care centres. This led to the deployment of hundreds of ICE agents to Minnesota, a move one law enforcement source linked to Shirley's video.
While Sortor and other right-wing influencers have portrayed Minneapolis as lawless, local politicians argue the demonstrations are protected under the First Amendment. The FBI has confirmed it is looking into the altercation involving Sortor.
This incident marks another contentious chapter for Sortor, who was arrested last October while covering anti-ICE protests in Portland, Oregon. As pro and anti-ICE demonstrator tensions mount, his experience underscores the volatile nature of the current climate in Minneapolis.
