Tonight, a downtown Minneapolis hotel became the focal point of an anti-ICE protest, sparked by rumors that federal agents were staying there.
The Canopy Hotel found itself surrounded by hundreds of demonstrators outraged by the recent shooting of Renee Good. It remains uncertain if any federal agents were actually inside, but the protesters made their presence felt regardless.
Amid the chaos, drums echoed and windows reverberated with chants of “f**k ICE,” leaving hotel guests unsettled and anxious.
Absent police presence allowed the masked protestors to intensify their demonstration, using drums, horns, whistles, and trumpets to amplify their defiance.
“They need to get the hell out of our city,” exclaimed a protestor with pink hair to the Daily Mail, speaking over the overwhelming noise.
According to her, earlier in the evening, she had noticed a van filled with ICE agents parked nearby, further fueling the protestors’ fervor.
Giving her name as Drey, 27, she said: ‘I don’t know for sure they are here but we will do whatever it takes to keep Minneapolis safe.’
Anti-ICE crowds formed downtown at the Canopy by Hilton hotel, which protesters believed ICE agents to be staying at
A window of the Residence Inn Minneapolis Downtown at The Depot hotel was also broken after protesters broke in during a protest
Others waved signs decrying ICE as fascists and murderers after marching through the city spraying graffiti and blocking traffic.
‘Get out of Minneapolis. They are only fanning the flames,’ said software developer Erik, 31, declining to give his full name.
‘It sucks for the people inside but these corporations need to get the message. These hotels are hosting ICE and we want them out.’
Signs read ‘Deport Hate, Not People,’ ‘stop killing us’ and ‘America is built on genocide and slavery.’
Susan, 41, who lives in Saint Paul and works at a law firm in downtown Minneapolis said she was ‘sickened’ by Good’s death.
‘It feels to good to yell and scream and let out all of my feelings,’ she told the Daily Mail.
‘My neighborhood is very diverse. If you were to remove all the diversity I wouldn’t want to live there. We celebrate difference and diversity here.’
The demonstrators vented their rage over the fatal shooting of Renee Good, although it was not clear whether any ICE officers were inside the downtown hotel
Protesters banged drums, pounded on windows and chanted profane anti-ICE songs as terrified guests cowered inside the hotel
Around 100 State Troopers arrived on scene several hours into the protest. Demonstrators carried signs with anti-ICE slogans
Protestors did not appear to get inside the hotel’s lobby, in part because several people were guarding doors.
One, wearing a gas mask and helmet, said he didn’t want things to get ugly.
‘F**k no, people will get hurt,’ he said, explaining that he was not police or security, just concerned about safety.
A rear door was wrenched open but it appeared to lead to a staff area rather than a public part of the hotel.
Around 10:30pm – several hours into the protest – around 100 State Troopers arrived on scene and formed two columns to march down Park Ave, clearing the area around the Canopy.
Protestors, many in masks, blew on horns, whistles and trumpets to make as much noise as possible. Police were nowhere to be seen
Demonstrators played instruments during the demonstration against increased immigration enforcement, just days after the fatal shooting of Renee Good
People were seen riding in the back of a truck during the protest outside the Canopy by Hilton hotel on Friday night
Faced with officers wielding batons and weapons to fire rubber bullets and gas, the crowds began retreating, thus far, without violence.
Until then, the protesters had blared sirens, banged on the windows and flashed lights at the facilities while trying to be as disruptive as possible.
Some of the signs carried read ‘GET THE F*** OUT OF MN’ and ‘MINNESOTA IS NOT AFRAID OF A LIL’ ICE’.
Others added that ‘no one is illegal on stolen land’ and called to ‘abolish’ the federal agency.
The crowd chanted ‘Minnesota knows how to deal with ICE’ while rhythmically banging on their pots and pans.
The crowds at the protest began to retreat after officers with batons and weapons fired rubber bullets and gas
Dramatic footage captured on Friday night also showed a group of protesters breaking into an venue downtown called The Depot.
The video showed a stirring crowd throwing chairs and tables at the walls and on the floor while others continued to gather around.
At least ten protesters entered the venue without permission. Some laughed and took out their phones to film as they did so.
As individuals filed in, one man was repeatedly heard yelling ‘Get the f*** out!’
The outside of the Depot was spray painted with messages that incessantly read ‘F*** ICE.’
A protester with a megaphone repeated the phrase multiple times, while another pulled out a fresh can of red spray to tag the exterior of the building again.
He spelled out ‘F*** ICE’ while other protesters cheered and whooped the profane graffiti.
A protestor holding the flag of Somalia was seen marching as part of a massive demonstration against ICE
A crowd of more than 100 protesters also marched elsewhere in Minneapolis, carrying anti-ICE signs
A demonstrator in an inflatable frog costume was seen taking part in a protest against ICE on Friday night
Elsewhere in Minneapolis, a crowd of at least 100 hundred protesters marched while making loud noise with pots, pans and whatever they could find.
One protester carried a ping pong paddle in his hand, while others were seen banging on kitchenware.
The crowd, which was large enough to split a road, was largely wearing surgical masks or partially covering their faces.
Protesters brandished anti-ICE signs reading ‘ICE OUT’ or ‘ICE OUT OF MNISOTA [sic]’ as they marched.
