Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) mobilized the state National Guard on Saturday as anti-ICE protesters have taken to the streets in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety confirmed the mobilization in a post on X, saying that troops are currently engaging in staging exercises. If deployed, they will be armed and will wear reflective vests to distinguish themselves, the Minnesota National Guard said.
“Members of the Minnesota National Guard are on standby, ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies,” the agency posted on X. “These Minnesota National Guardsmen live, work, and serve in our state, and are focused on protecting life, preserving property, and ensuring Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights.”
Crowds of anti-ICE protesters were seen outside Minneapolis City Hall, demonstrations that come as tensions remain high after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good in early January. Some clashed with right-wing demonstrators, including activist Jake Lang, who claimed he was stabbed by a protester. Other protesters assembled in the city for a “March Against Minnesota Fraud” rally, as a massive investigation into daycare fraud involving the state’s Somali population continues.
Despite the violent clashes, the Minnesota Police Department maintained that protesters were generally “responsive” to directions to clear roadways and disperse from the area.
TIM WALZ AND JACOB FREY UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BY DOJ
Walz has urged protesters to “stay safe and stay peaceful,” even as his own rhetoric blasting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers has increased the temperature.
Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are now under federal investigation over their statements about ICE, with the Department of Justice accusing the two of impeding federal law enforcement’s ability to do its job in the state.
