Minneapolis witnessed a fresh wave of unrest on Saturday as an anti-ICE protest outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building spiralled into chaotic scenes, including demonstrators hurling sex toys and other objects amid clashes with law enforcement.
Videos circulating online showed protesters throwing items over security fencing toward the federal complex, which houses immigration enforcement operations.
In one viral video, a pickup truck driver displaying anti-ICE placards, including one reading “Nuremberg 2.0”, was surrounded by demonstrators who appeared to mistake him for an opponent.
Despite repeatedly shouting that he supported their cause, the man was confronted by members of the crowd, some of whom struck his vehicle and removed a sign from his hands. The situation eventually de-escalated after other protesters intervened.
Authorities said the gathering later intensified, with some individuals allegedly throwing ice chunks and bottles at officers guarding the building.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office declared an unlawful assembly and confirmed that dozens of people were arrested.
Officials stated that while many participants protested peacefully, some engaged in property damage and assaults, including an incident in which a deputy was reportedly struck.
Counter-protesters were also present. Witness accounts and online footage suggested that individuals in a passing vehicle fired paintballs and pepper balls toward demonstrators, further escalating tensions.
The protest coincided with ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities area.
Recent remarks by federal officials indicated that personnel levels may be reduced, though operations continue under what has been described as “Operation Metro Surge.”
Why is Minneapolis witnessing unrest?
The demonstrations stem from anger over the fatal shootings of two American nationals during separate encounters with federal immigration agents. Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and poet, was shot last month as she drove away from immigration officers on a snowy Minneapolis street.
Federal authorities described her as a threat, a claim disputed by local leaders. Her death triggered large-scale protests across Minneapolis and other US cities.
Three weeks later, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, was shot during a confrontation with border patrol agents who reportedly spotted his licensed firearm.
Family members described him as compassionate and deeply troubled by the federal immigration crackdown.
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