Active-duty soldiers from Alaska put on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis amid ongoing protests. According to a US defense official, approximately 1,500 soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks are ready to be deployed if President Trump decides to send federal troops into Minneapolis.
The threat of deploying active-duty military personnel comes as protests continue against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city. The protesters aim to demonstrate their opposition to ICE's presence, while also pushing for accountability from local officials who allegedly impeded federal agents.
President Trump recently issued a warning that he would use the Insurrection Act to send federal troops into Minneapolis. However, no decision has been made yet on whether or not to deploy the soldiers.
In downtown Minneapolis, clashes between opposing protests took place outside City Hall. Conservative activist Jake Lang organized an anti-Islam protest in front of City Hall, but was met with counterprotesters who chased away his group and forced one person to take off a shirt deemed objectionable. Lang claimed he was injured during the confrontation.
The Minneapolis Police Department released a statement regarding Saturday's protests, saying that they deployed resources and made public announcements for people to move to the sidewalk or out of the area when crowds blocked roadways. The city urged community members to remain peaceful and lawful in the presence of federal immigration agents.
Meanwhile, Governor Tim Walz has been under federal investigation over alleged conspiracy claims regarding his statements about thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers deployed to Minneapolis. A legal expert weighed in on the matter, stating that public comments from Walz fall under protected speech, making it difficult for the federal government to build a case against him.
The protests come as part of an ongoing "Day of Action" planned by the Saint Paul Federation of Educators. The federation supports three demands: ICE leaving Minnesota immediately, holding accountable the officer who killed Renee Good, and no additional funding for ICE in the upcoming budget.
The threat of deploying active-duty military personnel comes as protests continue against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city. The protesters aim to demonstrate their opposition to ICE's presence, while also pushing for accountability from local officials who allegedly impeded federal agents.
President Trump recently issued a warning that he would use the Insurrection Act to send federal troops into Minneapolis. However, no decision has been made yet on whether or not to deploy the soldiers.
In downtown Minneapolis, clashes between opposing protests took place outside City Hall. Conservative activist Jake Lang organized an anti-Islam protest in front of City Hall, but was met with counterprotesters who chased away his group and forced one person to take off a shirt deemed objectionable. Lang claimed he was injured during the confrontation.
The Minneapolis Police Department released a statement regarding Saturday's protests, saying that they deployed resources and made public announcements for people to move to the sidewalk or out of the area when crowds blocked roadways. The city urged community members to remain peaceful and lawful in the presence of federal immigration agents.
Meanwhile, Governor Tim Walz has been under federal investigation over alleged conspiracy claims regarding his statements about thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers deployed to Minneapolis. A legal expert weighed in on the matter, stating that public comments from Walz fall under protected speech, making it difficult for the federal government to build a case against him.
The protests come as part of an ongoing "Day of Action" planned by the Saint Paul Federation of Educators. The federation supports three demands: ICE leaving Minnesota immediately, holding accountable the officer who killed Renee Good, and no additional funding for ICE in the upcoming budget.
... deploying 1500 soldiers just feels like a big mess to me 
. Like what's gonna happen if they do show up? Are people really gonna stand down and not fight back against ICE? It feels like we're creating more problems than we're solving 
. And can we talk about the governor for a sec? I don't think he's doing anything wrong just because some conspiracy theories are floating around 
. He's got to do his job, right? Protecting the city and its people. I'm all for accountability, but not at the cost of public safety 
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. President Trump is just usin' this whole deployment thing to distract us from the real issue – Governor Walz and his connections to the feds. I mean, think about it, if he was really just makin' public comments that were "protected speech", why would there be a federal investigation? That's some fishy business right there 
. And what's with all these protests goin' on? It sounds like someone's tryin' to stir up chaos and control the narrative. I'm not buyin' it, fam 
. This whole thing just reeks of a cover-up...
. Deploying military personnel to quell protests is a super concerning move #NotMyPresident. Can't we find other ways to resolve conflicts peacefully? I mean, I get that people have strong feelings on immigration issues, but resorting to violence isn't the answer 
. And what's up with President Trump issuing threats like this? It feels like he's trying to assert his authority in a really heavy-handed way #TrumpProblems.
. As a legal expert pointed out, public statements are protected speech, so I hope the feds can't build a case against him without solid evidence #JusticeForWalz.
. I just wish this situation could be resolved without resorting to military force or intimidation tactics 
. We should all be advocating for peaceful protests and constructive dialogue instead of resorting to violence #PeaceOverPatriotism
and I'm all about those protests too 
but can't we just talk about this stuff peacefully? 
no need for violence or hateful speech 
let's focus on finding solutions that benefit everyone 
like the educators want: ICE leave, hold accountable who killed Renee Good, more funding for schools 
. Can't we just try to understand each other's perspectives here? I mean, what's the harm in having a respectful discussion about immigration policies? 
Jake Lang might have gotten caught up in the heat of the moment, but does he really deserve our collective outrage? Let's not jump to conclusions, guys...
- like, what if someone gets hurt or worse? I get where the protesters want accountability from local officials who allegedly helped ICE agents, but this situation is getting out of control 
. It's like, we need more folks like him speaking up for what's right! On the other hand, I'm all for people staying peaceful and lawful, but come on, can't we just find a way to resolve this without the military being involved? 
Let's get this sorted out ASAP #NoToMilitaryDeployment #FreeSpeechMatters #PeacefulProtests
. The police department already has resources, whats wrong with them being able to handle things on their own? and its all so political, trump wants to use the insurrection act but hasnt decided yet, sounds like an excuse to me 
I'm literally freaking out over this whole situation... I mean, what's going on with these protests? 
Like, isn't he supposed to be all high and mighty or something? 
It seems like things are getting out of hand 
but violence shouldn't be the answer 
and some people are getting hurt 
which makes me think that things might not be as clear-cut as they seem 
instead of resorting to violence or hate speech 
let's focus on finding solutions that work for everyone 
. But at the same time, you gotta be careful with deploying military personnel, that can escalate things even more 
. And Governor Walz's situation? 
. What's next? National Guard being deployed on American streets? This is just getting out of hand... the protests are already so intense without adding military presence to the mix. And what's with the conservative activist trying to organize an anti-Islam protest in Minneapolis? Like, shouldn't we be welcoming diversity and inclusivity over dividing people? 
. Can we just have one peaceful day without all this chaos?! 
And can we talk about how Governor Walz's statements got him under investigation? Like, isn't he protected by free speech laws?! 
. What I hope is that everyone stays calm and peaceful, even when they're disagreeing on things 
. Minneapolis is already a mess, don't need more drama with active-duty soldiers in the mix. Can't we just talk about these issues without resorting to force? And what's up with all this back-and-forth between Governor Walz and the feds? Can't they just communicate like normal people? 
. Can't we find a way to resolve this without sending in the big guns? Minneapolis is already crazy enough without the military in it 
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. But at the end of the day, it's all just a bunch of politicians playing politics and not really solving anything 
it's always about controlling the narrative and silencing dissenting voices 
. i'm all for accountability and keeping everyone safe, but let's find a way to do that without trampling people's rights