Hundreds of counterprotesters in Minneapolis on Saturday overwhelmed a small rally organised by far-right activist Jake Lang, who had called for an anti-Islam, anti-Somali and pro-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstration. Lang had said on social media that he intended to burn a Quran on the steps of City Hall, though it was unclear if he carried out the plan.
Only a handful of people attended Lang's rally, while counterprotesters outnumbered them significantly, shouting over his attempts to speak and chasing the pro-ICE group away. At least one person was forced to remove a shirt deemed objectionable. Lang appeared to be injured as he left, with bruises and scrapes on his head. Snowballs and water balloons were thrown before an armoured police van and heavily equipped city police arrived.
Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat and other crimes related to the January 6 Capitol attack, before receiving clemency from Donald Trump. He has since announced a run for the US Senate in Florida.
The Minnesota National Guard said it had been mobilised by Governor Tim Walz to support the state patrol, but had not yet been deployed. The rally took place amid ongoing protests against a major immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities, which has seen over 2,000 federal officers deployed since early January. Demonstrators have condemned aggressive tactics, including masked officers pulling people from homes and cars, and the death of Renee Good, a US citizen shot by an ICE officer.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticised the federal operation, saying on CNN that he never expected the city to be 'invaded by our own government.' A federal judge recently ruled that immigration officers cannot detain or teargas peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities.
