Minneapolis Counter-Protesters Outnumber Far-Right Group During Attempted March on Somali Neighborhood
MINNEAPOLIS — A planned march by far-right activist Jake Lang and a small group of supporters into a predominantly Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis was shut down Saturday after being overwhelmed by hundreds of counter-protesters. The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in the Twin Cities following recent federal immigration enforcement operations.
Lang, a prominent figure among those pardoned for involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, had organized the event as a “March Against Minnesota Fraud.” The group gathered near Minneapolis City Hall on Saturday, January 17, with stated intentions to march into the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, a historic hub for the city’s Somali-American community.
Witnesses and social media footage confirm that Lang and his group, dubbed “crusaders” in his online posts, were met almost immediately by a crowd of over 1,000 counter-demonstrators. While Lang attempted to use a megaphone to broadcast rhetoric regarding the “preservation” of the white race and calls for mass deportations—specifically chanting “Send the Somalis back”—his voice was largely drowned out by the opposing crowd.
The confrontation escalated quickly as counter-protesters deployed noise tactics, water balloons, and snowballs to disrupt the gathering. Lang’s group, which numbered fewer than two dozen, was unable to proceed with their planned route to Cedar-Riverside or execute a threatened burning of a Quran. Instead, the small contingent was chased from the City Hall plaza, retreating several city blocks to a nearby hotel.
Lang later posted a video to social media showing himself with a head injury, claiming he was attacked by the crowd. Minneapolis police, who had mobilized armored vehicles in anticipation of unrest, reported no arrests during the skirmish, though they maintained a heavy presence in the downtown area.
The clash comes at a volatile moment for Minneapolis. The city has seen daily demonstrations following the launch of “Operation Metro Surge,” a federal initiative that has deployed thousands of additional ICE agents to the region. Community anger reached a boiling point earlier this month after the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a local resident, by federal agents.
Local leaders and advocacy groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Anti-War Committee, had mobilized in advance of Lang’s appearance, calling for the defense of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.
“We are here to show that hate has no home in Minneapolis,” said one counter-protester. “When they threaten our neighbors with deportation and racist violence, we show up to protect them.”
As of Monday morning, Lang has not announced plans for a rescheduled event, though he continues to solicit funds online for security and medical expenses.
