Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey placed blame on “far-right” agitators accusing them of trying to provoke protesters following a chaotic night of demonstrations that resulted in the arrest of 29 individuals and left one police officer injured.
During a news conference on a snowy Saturday morning, Frey acknowledged the “vast majority” of demonstrators who chose not to engage with the agitators attempting to incite the crowd.
“I watched a video yesterday that showed an agitator coming in from the far right, attempting to incite the crowd. He wanted the crowd to take the bait,” Frey remarked. It’s uncertain if the unidentified individual was among those arrested.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported that 29 people were arrested due to the protests, with some facing charges for property damage during a loud gathering outside the Canopy Hotel downtown on Friday night.
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According to O’Hara, by 1 a.m., the crowd was either dispersed or arrested. A Minnesota State Police trooper sustained injuries from ice cubes thrown by protesters, as reported by officials.
The chief commended 200 local and state police officers for their “disciplined and restrained response” amid the aggressive protest scenario.
Demonstrations erupted across the city, drawing over 1,000 protesters outside the Canopy Hotel, fueled by beliefs that ICE agents had taken refuge in a cabin after leaving the Hilton Hotel.
O’Hara indicated that officers were ready to make further arrests if the protests escalated into more serious actions as they continued into Saturday.
