Anti-ICE demonstrators pushed into the Minnesota State Capitol on Wednesday as the student-led protest escalated and was ultimately cut short after fights broke out inside the building.
The demonstration followed coordinated walkouts by high school students from Minneapolis and St. Paul who gathered at the Capitol as part of an “ICE OUT” protest. Video posted online shows large groups entering the building, chanting, and crowding hallways and rotundas. Footage recorded by Kevin Posobiec captured students running through the Capitol and scuffling with one another as law enforcement attempted to regain control. Officials have not yet released an exact number of detentions.
The student walkouts come amid heightened tensions in Minnesota following the fatal encounter between ICE agents and activist Renee Nicole Good, who rammed into an agent. In the days since the shooting, protests against federal immigration enforcement have expanded across the Twin Cities, with demonstrations reported near schools, on university campuses, and outside hotels housing federal personnel.
According to reporting from the World Socialist Web Site, hundreds of students from multiple high schools participated in coordinated walkouts before marching to the Capitol. The outlet described a broader protest environment marked by nightly demonstrations, increased federal law enforcement presence, and sustained opposition to ICE operations in the region.
WSWS reporters spoke to a student on scene who said, “First, we all, we’re all refugees. We came here legally, and we’re working our asses off. We’re working for this country. Our people are just doing the best we can. And you know, there’s fear of deportation here and there. But, you know, even with all that, we’re going to keep doing what we do.
“We’re going to keep fighting the good fight. We’re going to keep, we’re going to keep doing what is right—fighting for what’s right. What’s happening here is tragic. What happened to Renée Good is tragic. You know, we don’t want that again. Genocide is happening all over the world right now, free Palestine. I just want to say that I’m proud of everybody here. And I’m glad that they’re using their voice for the First Amendment.”
Federal authorities have deployed additional agents to the Minneapolis area in response to ongoing unrest, significantly increasing the number of personnel operating in and around the Twin Cities. The administration says the buildup is necessary to maintain order and enforce federal immigration law.
Reports from protest organizers and left-wing outlets claim ICE agents have appeared near schools and residential areas during enforcement operations, fueling demonstrations and walkouts.
