By Micah Jonah
January 18, 2026
Hundreds of protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday forced far-right influencer Jake Lang and his small group of supporters to abandon a rally in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood.
The protest comes amid heightened tensions in the city, following the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, by a federal officer, and the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant a week later.
Lang, who was among over 1,500 individuals pardoned by US President Donald Trump, for crimes linked to the January 6 Capitol incident, had organized an “anti-fraud” rally. Only about 10 people attended Lang’s anti-Islam, anti-Somali, and pro-ICE demonstration. They were quickly overwhelmed by hundreds of counter-protesters, who shouted for federal immigration authorities to leave the city, chased Lang and his supporters to a nearby hotel. A few scuffles occurred, but no serious injuries were reported.
Lang later claimed on social media that he was stabbed during the altercation but said his protective vest prevented injury. Minneapolis police confirmed awareness of his post but stated no official report of injury had been filed.
The protests have been ongoing since the Department of Homeland Security deployed more than 2,000 federal officers to the Twin Cities to intensify immigration enforcement. Residents have raised concerns over aggressive tactics, including the removal of individuals from their homes and vehicles, which has already resulted in at least one death.
The Trump administration has defended the deployment, citing alleged welfare fraud in Minnesota, and has repeatedly criticized the city’s Somali immigrant community.
During Saturday’s demonstrations, protesters threw snowballs and water balloons before heavily armed police, an armoured vehicle arrived. The Minnesota National Guard said it had been mobilized to support the state patrol in maintaining order but had not yet been deployed.
A federal judge recently ruled that immigration officers cannot detain or use force against peaceful protesters who are not obstructing operations, including while monitoring enforcement activities.
Trump has warned he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy US troops if state officials fail to curb the protests.
Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz, both Democrats, have vowed to uphold public safety and the rights of residents, even as the Justice Department reportedly investigates them for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement.
