Tear gas causes health concerns for Twin Cities residents
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Clouds of smoke and gas billowed in south Minneapolis on Saturday, as federal and state law enforcement launched round after round of chemical irritants into a crowd of protesters and observers.
They had gathered on Nicollet Avenue after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti. Most in the crowd were there to peacefully chant and stand watch, but all felt the effects of the irritants. The tear gas sent protesters running, many gasping for breath. Some collapsed and yelled for medics.
It also seeped into nearby homes and businesses — meaning those residents, workers and customers were exposed to it, even if they weren’t protesting.
It’s become a not-uncommon scene in the Twin Cities in recent weeks, as federal agents who are part of the federal immigration operation regularly deploy chemical irritants to deter observers and protesters. Medical experts say there’s a lot they still don’t know about the health impacts.
The heavy use of chemical irritants has set off speculation on social media about the types of chemicals being deployed. Some activists have raised questions about the possible use of hexachloroethane, or HC — a carcinogenic type of crowd control gas, manufactured by the same company behind many of the canisters found on the ground at protest scenes. Law enforcement used HC canisters against protesters in Portland in 2020.
It’s not clear whether that type of irritant has been used in the Twin Cities operations. An ICE media spokesperson did not respond to questions about what kind of irritants agents use.
— Estelle Timar-Wilcox, MPR News
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