National Guard on Standby Amid Minneapolis Protests, Federal Probe

The Minnesota National Guard has been mobilized and placed on standby in Minneapolis this weekend as the city grapples with escalating protests, including clashes between opposing groups, and a federal investigation targeting state and city officials. Governor Tim Walz issued a warning order earlier this month, preparing the Guard in response to a fatal shooting involving a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent and subsequent demonstrations against federal immigration operations.

National Guard Mobilized, Awaiting Deployment

Major General Shawn Manke of the Minnesota National Guard confirmed during a Friday news conference that members have been mobilized, emphasizing they are on standby and will not be deployed to city streets unless needed. This preparedness mirrors a similar posture taken during protests the previous weekend. The Guard has communicated via social media that if activated, members will wear reflective vests to differentiate themselves from other agencies. Their stated mission is to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies in maintaining order. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobsen reiterated the state’s commitment to ensuring public safety while protecting the right to peaceful assembly, stating that “any actions that harm people, destroy property or jeopardize public safety will not be tolerated” (CBS News).

Fatal Shooting and Federal Operations Fuel Unrest

The current wave of unrest stems from a series of incidents involving federal immigration agents. Earlier this month, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot in her car by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. Tensions further escalated with a non-fatal shooting this week, where an ICE agent injured a Venezuelan man accused of violently resisting arrest during an operation. These events have fueled widespread protests against ICE operations, specifically “Operation Metro Surge,” which has seen an increased deployment of federal immigration resources to the city (KOAM News Now).

Legal Interventions and Protest Dynamics

Protesters have converged repeatedly on the Whipple building, the federal agents’ headquarters, leading to multiple clashes with law enforcement. On Friday, a Minnesota federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, limiting the tactics federal agents can use against peaceful protesters. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that agents from Operation Metro Surge are prohibited from arresting or retaliating against peaceful demonstrators, or using “pepper-spray or similar nonlethal munitions and crowd dispersal tools” against them. The order also restricts agents from stopping and detaining drivers without “reasonable articulable suspicion” of obstruction (KOAM News Now).

Saturday saw heated exchanges and physical altercations as opposing protest groups confronted each other in downtown Minneapolis, near City Hall. Conservative activist Jake Lang, known for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and subsequent presidential pardon, organized an anti-Islam protest. His small group was met by a significantly larger counterprotest organized by the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump. Police intervened to separate the groups, with aerial footage showing several physical altercations before Lang’s group was reportedly chased off to a downtown hotel (Start Tribune). Crowds also blocked streets, disrupting traffic, prompting police to threaten crowd control measures.

Community Mobilization and Official Demands

The St. Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) announced its support for a “Day of Action” scheduled for Friday, urging Minnesotans to abstain from work, school, and shopping. The federation outlined three core demands: ICE’s immediate withdrawal from Minnesota, legal accountability for the officer who killed Renee Good, and no additional federal funding for ICE in the upcoming budget. The SPFE emphasized the importance of community solidarity “to show our families and our nation that we will hold the line for what is right.”

Federal Probe Targets State and City Leaders

Adding another layer of complexity, the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that the probe centers on an alleged conspiracy to impede federal immigration agents, stemming from statements Walz and Frey made regarding the deployment of thousands of ICE officers and Border Patrol agents. Legal experts, however, have expressed skepticism about the investigation’s viability. Joe Tamburino, a legal expert, called the DOJ’s investigation a “stretch,” while Professor David Schultz, a First Amendment law expert at Hamline University, noted that Walz’s and Frey’s public comments fall under protected speech. Schultz emphasized that there is “no case on record… that has taken mere criticism to be equivalent to obstruction of justice,” suggesting the investigation might be politically motivated (CBS News).

Calls for Calm Amidst Heightened Tensions

Amidst the heightened tensions, state officials continue to appeal for calm. Commissioner Jacobsen stressed the desire for state agencies “to be helpful… to keep the peace” and urged protesters to “demonstrate, to share your opinions… but to do it in a way that doesn’t incite violence.” Governor Walz echoed this sentiment on social media, advising the public to “Stay safe and stay peaceful today,” assuring that public safety teams are equipped to respond if necessary.

The multifaceted situation in Minneapolis highlights a growing friction point between federal enforcement actions and local governance, exacerbated by public outcry and competing political narratives. The mobilization of the National Guard, while currently a precautionary measure, underscores the potential for further escalation in an environment where legal challenges, official investigations, and direct public confrontations are all unfolding simultaneously.