Following violent protests that erupted after a fatal shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday, Governor Tim Walz deployed the Minnesota National Guard.
According to reports, the first orders given to National Guard members were to distribute coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts to anti-ICE protesters. The soldiers were also issued reflective vests to avoid being mistaken for ICE agents by rioters. A National Guard member described the initiative as intended to “demonstrate safety and security.”
Questions have arisen about the force’s role in the city, given that it operates under state authority rather than federal command. Recent incidents involving protesters who reportedly bit off fingers of federal agents have raised concerns. The Minnesota National Guard remains under Governor Walz’s control and has not been federalized.
