A chilling scene unfolded in Minneapolis on Saturday as a man found himself pursued into a parking garage by a furious crowd. Video footage captured the harrowing moment he was struck in the head with a flagpole, the initial blow igniting a brutal and sustained assault.
The man, attempting to reach his car and escape the escalating violence, was relentlessly followed. Agitators allegedly pepper-sprayed the open wound on his head, then repeatedly struck it with their hands. Despite the blood streaming down his face, he pleaded with the crowd, stating, “I’m trying to be done, but you guys keep harassing me.”
A voice boomed from a megaphone, shockingly declaring the man’s injuries were “natural for Nazis,” while simultaneously demanding he receive “mental help.” The crowd’s venomous shouts of “F--- you Nazi” echoed as he desperately sought to leave.
Remarkably, even as blood soaked his jacket, the man calmly refused assistance offered by one woman, stating, “No, I’m good. Thank you though, I appreciate you.” As he finally managed to drive away, the mob unleashed their fury on his vehicle, slamming doors and repeatedly striking it with flagpoles.
The circumstances that triggered this violent encounter remain unclear, but the incident occurred amidst broader protests. Earlier in the day, Jake Lang, a man pardoned for his participation in the January 6th Capitol riot, was also targeted by protesters.
Footage showed Lang being dragged through the crowd, suffering a head wound. He had reportedly joined a demonstration organized by Americans Against Islamification, intending to burn a Quran at Minneapolis City Hall. The situation escalated as he attempted to enter a car offering assistance, with protesters forcibly preventing his escape and damaging the vehicle.
Lang later claimed on social media he was also stabbed, but a plate carrier he wore prevented serious injury. His online post described a “lynching” by an “anti-white mob,” alleging Minneapolis authorities stood down and allowed the assault to occur.
The Minneapolis Police Department acknowledged awareness of the social media reports regarding Lang’s alleged assault, but confirmed no official report had been filed. They urged anyone experiencing assaultive behavior to come forward with detailed information.
Simultaneously, clashes between anti-ICE protesters and law enforcement intensified outside the Whipple Federal Building. Agitators screamed obscenities at agents attempting to maintain a security perimeter, while Hennepin County Sheriff’s patrol cars blocked access to the building as darkness fell.
These confrontations were fueled by recent tensions stemming from the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman shot by an ICE agent during an operation in Minneapolis. She had allegedly been driving toward the agent while attempting to obstruct the operation.
In response to the escalating unrest, the Minnesota National Guard was mobilized and staged to provide support to local law enforcement and emergency management agencies, though they had not yet been deployed to the streets.
