Tensions have boiled over in Minneapolis after protesters vandalised a federal courthouse, hours after a woman was shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The incident has sparked fresh unrest in a city still scarred by the 2020 killing of George Floyd.
Courthouse Under Siege as Anger Spills Over
Shocking footage shared on social media showed dozens of protesters banging on the doors of the Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse, chanting "ICE out now!". The demonstration was a direct response to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who was killed after an encounter with federal agents.
In one video, a protester appearing to wear a keffiyeh—a traditional Middle Eastern scarf often associated with Palestinian solidarity—was seen kicking and cracking a glass entrance to the building. The act of vandalism prompted a reaction from within the crowd, with one person heard telling the individual, "wait... what are you doing bro? You can't do that s**t."
Another clip showed a woman identifying herself as a lawyer, suggesting the crowd should block the courthouse entrances as a form of protest.
The Shooting That Ignited the Protests
The protests erupted following the death of Renee Nicole Good. Authorities state that Good was shot three times in the face by an ICE agent after she ignored demands to exit her car and attempted to flee the scene. The shooting occurred less than a mile from where George Floyd was killed.
The Trump administration has defended the agent's actions. On his Truth Social platform, former President Donald Trump called the deceased driver "very disorderly" and claimed she "viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin went further, labelling Good's actions an "act of domestic terrorism" and alleging she "weaponized her vehicle."
City on Edge as Demonstrations Continue
While the current unrest has not yet reached the scale of the 2020 riots—which caused an estimated $500 million in property damage—the city remains on high alert. Beyond the courthouse, other protests have seen individuals throwing snowballs at ICE officers and waving flags bearing the acronym "FTP," which stands for "F**k The Police." Some demonstrators were also seen burning the American flag or holding it upside down.
Federal agents have responded to some gatherings with tear gas and pepper spray. Amid the escalating situation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has made a public plea for calm, directly challenging the federal narrative.
"Don't believe this propaganda machine," Walz stated, referring to the DHS's account of the shooting. He acknowledged the public's anger but urged protesters to express their First Amendment rights peacefully. "We can't give them what they want," he emphasized, warning that violence could give the Trump administration justification for a harsher crackdown on the city.
The coming days will test whether Minneapolis can navigate this latest flashpoint without descending into the widespread destruction witnessed four years ago.
