Anti-ICE crowd chase off pro-ICE demonstrators from Minneapolis streets (AP photo)
A January 6 rioter pardoned by US President Donald Trump led a small pro-ICE rally in Minneapolis on Saturday, but was quickly swamped by a much larger counter-protest against Trump’s immigration crackdown and the surge of federal agents in the city.Jake Lang, one of around 1,600 people granted clemency by Trump on his first day back in office gathered with his supporters outside the federal courthouse, but was soon surrounded by counter protesters shouting slogans and holding anti-ICE signs. As tensions rose, Lang was chased from the area. Earlier, Lang’s group played the song Ice Ice Baby and made anti-immigrant remarks, claiming immigrants were “replacing” white Americans. Lang had promoted the event online as a “Crusader march” and used the term “Little Somalia” for the area, referring to Minneapolis’ large Somali population. He had also said he planned to burn a Quran during the protest.A local group, the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump, had called for a counter protest, and dozens of people turned up. Videos from the scene showed crowds surrounding Lang and forcing him away from the courthouse. After the rally, Lang claimed on social media that he had been attacked and stabbed. He later said he had been taken to hospital and accused city authorities of failing to protect him. Lang urged Trump to send in the National Guard and shared a fundraising link for his medical bills.”I just got stabbed by a crazie white commie leftist rioter today in Minnesota,” Lang wrote on X. In another post he said, “I was just literally lynched by an anti-white mob of liberals & illegal immigrants- I’m at the hospital now getting staples in my skull..Nearly ripped limb from limb in Minneapolis!!!!” The protests came amid rising anger in Minneapolis over a surge of federal immigration agents in the city. Earlier this month, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman. The shooting sparked protests across the country.Local and state leaders have openly criticised the federal presence. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey told ICE to leave the city, while Minnesota officials have sued the Trump administration, arguing that the deployment of agents is unconstitutional. The White House has rejected the criticism and accused Democrats of encouraging violence against law enforcement. Trump has warned he could invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops against protesters, though he later appeared to soften his comments.