A tense standoff in Minneapolis took a bizarre turn Thursday when a demonstrator claimed she was being paid to attend the anti-ICE protests. Fox News host Laura Ingraham was on the ground as the city faced its second day of widespread unrest.
Ingraham confronted a masked protester outside the Whipple Federal Building to ask about her motivations. When asked if she had a job, the woman replied, “I’m [getting] paid right now.”
It remains unclear if the demonstrator was being literal or sarcastic. However, the exchange added fuel to claims that professional agitators are fueling the chaos in the Twin Cities.
The protests were sparked by the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during a massive federal operation. DHS officials stated Good was shot after she tried to “weaponize her vehicle” against agents.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has faced intense criticism for his response to the shooting. He blamed federal agents for “sowing chaos” and told ICE to “get the f--- out” of his city.
The unrest has forced the Minneapolis Public School District to cancel classes due to safety concerns. Several high-profile events, including a John Mulaney comedy show, have also been postponed.
Ingraham reported that her crew was aggressively escorted out of the protest area by demonstrators. She noted that while some appeared peaceful, others were openly hostile toward the media.
"If you actually go into the mix and try to chat with people, you end up getting escorted out," Ingraham said. She added that protesters signaled their distain with obscene gestures as her team departed.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also weighed in on the incident, amplifying claims of "murder." She issued a sharp rebuke of the Trump administration’s tactics in the region.
The current atmosphere draws heavy parallels to the 2020 riots following the death of George Floyd. Many businesses have boarded up their windows in anticipation of further violence over the weekend.
Governor Tim Walz has put the Minnesota National Guard on "warning order" status. He stated the troops are prepared to deploy if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Federal authorities maintain that the use of force was a matter of self-defense. They have vowed to continue their mission of enforcing immigration laws and investigating large-scale fraud.