• Hundreds of counterprotesters confronted Jake Lang and roughly 10 supporters outside Minneapolis City Hall
• Lang claimed he was stabbed but police say no report was filed and no injuries documented
• The incident occurred amid daily protests following the fatal ICE shooting of US citizen Renee Nicole Good

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (TDR) — A Jake Lang Minneapolis protest organized by pardoned January 6 rioter Jake Lang descended into chaos Saturday as hundreds of counterprotesters swarmed the conservative influencer’s small group outside City Hall, forcing them to retreat to a nearby hotel. The confrontation unfolded in freezing temperatures with windchills below zero, underscoring the intensity of emotions surrounding immigration enforcement operations that have gripped the Twin Cities.

Lang, who served four years in pretrial detention before receiving clemency from President Donald Trump, had promoted his “March Against Minnesota Fraud” rally as a demonstration supporting ICE operations in the region. The 30-year-old, who is currently running for U.S. Senate in Florida, had threatened to burn a Quran and march to Cedar-Riverside, a predominantly Somali neighborhood. He accomplished neither goal.

“Christian Crusaders” would march to support federal immigration enforcement, Lang had declared on social media before the event.

Overwhelming Counterprotest Forces Retreat

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Approximately 10 people attended Lang’s demonstration, vastly outnumbered by hundreds of counterprotesters who converged on the scene shortly before noon. Video footage captured the moment demonstrators surrounded Lang’s group, drowning out their attempts to speak with music, whistles, and chants.

“Hey, Minnesota what do we say? F— Nazis every day,” anti-ICE protesters shouted through megaphones.

The confrontation quickly turned physical as counterprotesters grabbed at Lang’s “Americans Against Islamification” banner and flags. Minneapolis Police deployed armored vehicles to the scene twice but made no arrests, according to department spokesperson Trevor Folke.

Counterprotesters carried signs reading “Minnesota Nice, Not ICE” and “ICE out now!” as they surrounded the small pro-ICE group.

“Please stop,” Lang repeated to one protester who appeared to be grabbing his legs, according to eyewitness accounts.

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Lang and his supporters were eventually pushed back to a recessed window along the City Hall building before the crowd chased them through downtown streets. Counterprotesters threw water balloons and paint-filled projectiles at the group, with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unverified Stabbing Claim

Lang later posted on social media claiming he was stabbed during the confrontation, sharing images showing what appeared to be blood on the back of his head.

“I just got stabbed…today in Minnesota,” Lang wrote on X, alleging he was attacked by a counterprotester.

However, Minneapolis Police Department officials said they are “aware of social media accounts of him being assaulted” but no police report has been filed.

“MPD encourages anyone who has experienced assaultive behavior to report the incident as soon as possible and provide as much detail as they can,” spokesperson Trevor Folke said in a statement.

The department confirmed there were no arrests downtown and no injuries reported by anyone from the protests.

Context of Heightened Tensions

The Minneapolis demonstrations have been occurring daily since Department of Homeland Security announced what it called the largest immigration enforcement operation ever, deploying more than 2,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The operation has included Homeland Security Investigations officers focused on suspected fraud cases.

St. Paul City Council member Molly Coleman described the intensity of the federal operation’s impact on the community.

“The first day of the action was unlike any other day we’ve experienced,” Coleman said, referring to the DHS deployment announced January 6.

The surge in federal enforcement took a deadly turn on January 7 when ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, during a confrontation in south Minneapolis. Federal officials claimed Good tried to ram officers with her vehicle, labeling her actions “domestic terrorism.”

“Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said of the federal government’s characterization. “To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz proclaimed January 9 as “Renee Good Day,” while Attorney General Keith Ellison disputed federal claims about Good.

“She was a compassionate neighbor trying to be a legal observer on behalf of her immigrant neighbors,” Ellison told NPR. “That’s what she was doing at the moment of her death.”

Lang’s Background and Political Ambitions

Lang faced 11 federal charges related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, including allegations he assaulted police officers with an aluminum baseball bat. He never went to trial, spending approximately four years in pretrial detention before Trump’s blanket pardon in January 2025.

“I’m very proud to have done what I did on January 6, and I think that it was just the beginning of what America needs to cleanse itself,” Lang said at a January 2026 gathering in Washington, D.C.

Since his release, Lang has positioned himself as a prominent voice among January 6 activists and launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida vacated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He is challenging interim Senator Ashlee Moody in the Republican primary scheduled for August 2026.

A pro-ICE demonstrator who identified himself only as Gary told reporters he attended Saturday’s rally motivated by anger over fraud scandals in Minnesota.

“I came out motivated by anger over fraud scandals that have drawn renewed scrutiny in Minnesota, including a high-profile investigation focused on social services programs involving a number of individuals of Somali descent,” Gary said.

National Guard on Standby

The Minnesota National Guard announced Saturday that members have been mobilized and are ready to assist local law enforcement if needed. Approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers in Alaska are also on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis, according to a U.S. defense official.

The confrontation between Lang’s supporters and counterprotesters reflects broader national divisions over immigration policy, with the deadly shooting of Good serving as a flashpoint for community outrage. The incident occurred just blocks from where George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in May 2020, adding historical weight to current tensions.

Will the escalating confrontations between federal agents and Minneapolis residents lead to further violence, or can community leaders find a path toward de-escalation?

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