MINNEAPOLIS — A small group of ANTIFA members conquered the Hennepin County Jail, when the group took down the Hennepin County flag and raised the ANTIFA flag in its place Monday afternoon.
Approximately 100 people gathered outside of the Hennepin County Jail, which is located across from City Hall and cheered as the flag was raised.
#Antifa flags replaces the Hennepin county one at #Charlottesville solitary action pic.twitter.com/2d7nv5Umeg
— Leah Soule (@SouleLeah) August 14, 2017
Credit: Twitter @SouleLeah
“We get protesters quite a bit,” Carolyn Marinan, the Public Relations Officer for Hennepin County told Alpha News. “We ask that they [protesters] respect the rights of others and the property.”
The ANTIFA flag remained up for approximately 30 minutes before Hennepin County removed it.
“It was unfortunate, but we remedied it,” Marinan said.
Almost 1,000 people came out to protest in the streets of Minneapolis to show solidarity with those in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Charlottesville was a scene of chaos over the weekend as white supremacists and anti-racism protesters, including groups like Black Lives Matter and ANTIFA, took to the streets fighting over ideology. White supremacists, upset over the a decision to remove a statue of Confederate hero General Robert E. Lee, took to the streets to express their anger over the statue’s removal. ANTIFA and other anti-racism protesters showed up to counter-protest. Several were injured and Heather Hayer lost her life when an alleged white supremacist drove his car through a crowd of protesters.
In Minneapolis, hundreds gathered outside the MNGOP headquarters near the Cedar Riverside area to protest the Republican Party’s support of President Donald Trump. Leaders speaking to the crowd spoke about what they see as Trump’s support of racist behavior.
The statements from anti-racism protesters came after MNGOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan and Republican congressmen disavowed the events that took place in Charlottesville.
“Racism, hatred, violence and terrorism are unacceptable on any level,” MNGOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan said in a statement. “As Americans, we should absolutely and resolutely stand-up and speak out against the horrific bigotry. To reinforce what President Donald J. Trump stated: ‘we all must be united and condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America.'”
“Cops and the Klan go hand in hand,” was just one of several chants shouted in the streets by protesters.
As the group began to march, officers used squad cars to block the entrance and exit ramps to I-94, and eventually blocked light rail for an hour.
Members of ANTIFA, known in Minneapolis as the Twin Cities General Defense Committee, harassed Alpha News several times during coverage of the scene.
“Are you guys with Alpha News?” asked one black clad Antifa member who had his face hidden by a black bandana and a cardboard sign. “Why are you with Alpha News? We don’t want your fascist <expletive> here! Get it out! Get it out!”
Someone in the crowd told the Antifa member, “Free speech, man.” The Antifa member, who got in the face of the Alpha News reporter shouted “Get it out! Get it out! We know what is up with you guys, get it outta here. Fascists!”
A security officer hired by Alpha News felt the situation was dangerous enough to pull us back from coverage of the march.
No arrests were made at the event.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
