Protesters and federal agents clashed in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday after protesters gathered in front of a federal building in Minneapolis that serves as the headquarters for efforts to crack down on undocumented immigrants. About 2,000 federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies have been ordered to Minneapolis, neighboring St. Paul and elsewhere in the state of Minnesota.
ICE agents and border police were reported to have used tear gas and pepper spray to repel the protesters.
On Wednesday evening U.S. time, and hours after the shooting, a large crowd took to the street where the incident occurred to honor the memory of 37-year-old mother of three Renee Nicole Good.
Deep contradictions
The shooting highlighted the deep polarization in the United States. Vice President Vance lashed out at Good, claiming she had tried to stop ICE agents from doing their job.
At a press conference, Vance also accused “several of you in this room,” and the American media in general, of reporting incorrectly about the shooting and of doing the bidding of the radical left.
"We fully support ICE," said Vance, emphasizing that efforts against irregular migrants should be intensified.
We will not give in to terrorists.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, also repeated accusations that the shooter, Good, used her car as a weapon against ICE agents.
The state government continued to take the opposite stance, with both Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz questioning the ICE operation. Walz also announced that the state National Guard was ready in case the protests escalated.
The fatal shooting on Wednesday was filmed by multiple people. The videos show two ICE agents trying to get a woman out of her car.
"Fuck off"
The woman reverses the car, then drives forward and turns. A third agent draws his weapon and fires one shot, continuing to fire as the car drives past him. The car then crashes into several parked vehicles. A witness tells CNN that the woman was not aggressive.
The authorities disagree about who is responsible.
President Donald Trump and Kristi Noem have defended the shooting, saying the agent acted in self-defense.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was harsh in his criticism of ICE after the shooting. At a press conference, he called the argument about self-defense “bullshit”:
ICE, go to hell.
