Hundreds of counterprotesters successfully overwhelmed and chased off a small far-right demonstration in Minneapolis on Saturday, in a dramatic confrontation outside City Hall. The event, organised by conservative figure Jake Lang, was intended as a show of support for a recent federal immigration crackdown but was swiftly drowned out by a much larger opposing crowd.
Clash at City Hall
The planned rally, which Lang promoted on social media with promises to "burn a Quran" on the steps of City Hall, drew only a handful of supporters. In stark contrast, several hundred counterprotesters converged on the location, shouting over Lang's attempts to speak and ultimately pursuing his group away from the area. The counter-demonstrators forced at least one individual to remove a shirt they found offensive.
Lang, who had previously received clemency from Donald Trump for charges related to the January 6 Capitol attack and has since announced a US Senate run in Florida, appeared injured as he departed. He was seen with visible bruises and scrapes on his head. The scene also involved thrown snowballs and water balloons before the arrival of police in an armoured van.
Background of Rising Tensions
The heated exchange occurred against a backdrop of sustained local anger over a significant escalation in immigration enforcement. Since early January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has brought more than 2,000 federal officers to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Daily protests have erupted, with participants condemning aggressive tactics like pulling people from homes and cars.
The operation has already claimed at least one life: Renee Good, a US citizen and mother of three, was shot by an ICE officer during a confrontation on 7 January. In response to the growing unrest, Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz had mobilised the National Guard over a week prior to the rally, though a spokesperson confirmed they were "staged and ready" but not yet deployed.
Legal Challenges and Personal Stories
The legal landscape surrounding the crackdown is shifting. On Friday, a federal judge ruled that immigration officers cannot detain or teargas peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities. This followed the high-profile case of Garrison Gibson, a Liberian man who has lived legally in the US for about three decades.
Gibson, 38, was arrested on 11 January in a raid where video showed federal officers using a battering ram on his front door. Although he was under a legal order of supervision, a judge later ruled officials did not give proper notice before revoking his status. After a brief re-arrest on Friday—which his family alleged was ordered by White House aide Stephen Miller, a claim the White House denied—Gibson was released. His family spent $700 to repair their door amid subfreezing temperatures.
"I don't leave the house," Gibson said at a Saturday news conference, expressing fear since his release. The DHS criticised the judge's intervention, with a spokesperson vowing to continue fighting for the removal of "criminal illegal aliens."
Protester Luke Rimington summarised the sentiment of many counter-demonstrators: "We're out here to show Nazis and ICE and DHS... you are not welcome in Minneapolis." The events underscore the deep divisions and heightened tensions as federal immigration policies face fierce local resistance in one of America's most liberal metropolitan areas.
