Tear gas and burning barricades
A number of agents surrounded the scene of the shooting at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, and protesters chanted slogans likening them to Nazis. “I smell Nazis,” was said to be heard in the streets of Minneapolis.
Agents used tear gas against the crowd. According to reporters, the air in freezing Minneapolis is unbreathable and saturated with irritants.
“I work for the people,” shouted one of the agents, rifle to his chest, towards the protesters. “You don’t work for me! Get out!” countered one of the men in the crowd. The chaos was intensified by the fire of a container into which someone had thrown an explosive, and the subsequent blockade of traffic.
The tragedy prompted an immediate response from Minnesota state officials. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar demanded, “Get ICE out of our state NOW!” Current governor Tim Walz also joined the call, according to which the president must end the operation immediately.
Today’s shooting in Minneapolis follows a recent shooting earlier this month. Just a few weeks ago, the city was rocked by the death of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by federal agents in a similar raid. This event started the current massive protests in the state.
Under the current administration of Donald Trump, ICE has become the main tool of his promise of “the largest deportation operation in US history.” The federal government as part of the campaign Operation Metro Surge deployed approximately 2,000 armed agents to the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area.
