Right-wing, anti-Islam protest draws large group of counter demonstrators
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This story includes live updates from Jan. 17, 2026 about the surge of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. For the latest news on ICE in Minnesota, visit our collection of stories here.
2:30 p.m. | Cedar-Riverside remains quiet, community volunteers still on ‘alert’
On Saturday afternoon, Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood remained quiet, but extra police presence remains in the area.
Allen Christian is an artist in the neighborhood who owns the House of Balls gallery near the West Bank transit station. He and his wife are two of many observers patrolling the neighborhood and keeping an eye out for agitators.
“It almost feels like it’s over already,” he said. “We were going to set up barricades if we had to, but I don’t think we’re going to have to.”
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In a statement, the Minnesota National Guard said members of the Minnesota National Guard’s 257th Military Police Company mobilized to support the Minnesota State Patrol to “assist in providing traffic support to protect life, preserve property, and support the rights of all Minnesotans to assemble peacefully.”
According to their website, the unit previously deployed to Iraq in 2004, Afghanistan in 2012 and Guantanamo Bay in 2017.
— Ellie Roth, MPR News
1:45 p.m. | Confrontation erupts as right-wing protesters rally at Minneapolis City Hall
A group of right-wing anti-Islam protesters arrived at Minneapolis City Hall Saturday morning, facing off against a much larger crowd of counter protesters.
Jake Lang, a conservative social media influencer, organized the rally downtown. He arrived with several other right-wing protesters, carrying anti-Islam signs and chanting.
The counter protest was mostly nonconfrontational, but several counter protesters immediately surged in to meet the far-right group when they arrived.
Some participants yelled back at the far-right protesters, chasing them as they walked around the block in front of City Hall. Lang and his supporters eventually gathered in front of City Hall, where counter protesters kept up chants. Some threw water balloons and occasionally escalated to pushing and fighting with protesters.
Lang and several of his supporters pushed through the crowd around 1:30 p.m. and left the scene, tailed by counter protesters who followed them for several blocks through downtown, yelling at them to leave town.
Minneapolis police were standing by along nearby roads. A police SWAT truck made several loudspeaker announcements asking the crowd to keep the roadways clear.
Community organizers and local law enforcement prepared ahead of time to keep an eye on the neighborhood, as word of the protest and a planned march through the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood circulated on social media. Community volunteers and medics in bright yellow vests assembled at City Hall this morning; some planned to patrol in Cedar-Riverside, too.
Local leaders in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood asked people not to confront protesters there, according to a statement from City Council member Jamal Osman. Leaders advised residents to go about their day as normal, and call 911 or find a community volunteer if they needed help.
— Estelle Timar-Wilcox, MPR News
1:07 p.m. | Increased law enforcement around Cedar-Riverside neighborhood
Minnesota National Guard troops, State Patrol and Minneapolis Police officers were stationed throughout Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, in the event of an anti-immigration protest moves into the area. Abdirizak Bihi, a longtime community advocate in the neighborhood, said the presence of Minnesota law enforcement officers made community members feel safer.
“People are happy,” he said. “I talked to elders, I’ve talked to young people, I’ve talked to business owners and they feel overwhelmingly safe because of the presence of law enforcement.”
Bihi said for the most part, life is moving as normal as possible in the predominantly Somali-American neighborhood. There are fewer people walking around than usual, which he said could be due to cold weather, but businesses remain open. Imams and other community leaders have advised folks living in the neighborhood not to interact with or confront far-right protestors if they do come to the neighborhood.
— Ellie Roth, MPR News
11:57 a.m. | Minnesota GOP condemns violent language
The Minnesota Republican Party is distancing itself from a planned pro-ICE protest in Minneapolis after organizers used rhetoric threatening violence.
Party Chair Alex Plechash said the protest is not affiliated with the GOP and condemned violent language quote “from anyone, on any side.”
Plechash urged supporters to back law enforcement peacefully, saying the party will not promote or excuse violence.
— Annie Russell, MPR News
