Far-left Antifa radicals vandalized businesses and blocked traffic with barricades during a two-hour march down Lake Street in Minneapolis Friday night.
The march was infiltrated by independent photojournalist Rebecca Brannon, who said that Antifa-affiliated accounts had been posting about the “direct action” all week.
Protest march ongoing near E Lake Street and Nicollet Ave: pic.twitter.com/fZJU7hFmmu
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) February 12, 2022
Brannon reports that a helicopter was circling overhead the entire time, but no police ever showed up during the two-hour occupation.
Minneapolis black bloc Antifa graffitied numerous businesses and set barricades in the streets for nearly two hours tonight all down Lake Sreet from 35W and in Uptown.
No police ever showed up or were seen except for a helicopter hovering overhead the entire time. pic.twitter.com/Jv12q699g6
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022
Several businesses were vandalized and traffic was blocked in both directions, Brannon reports.
For over two hours Minneapolis businesses were vandalized up and down Lake Street by Antifa. Traffic was blocked both ways – motorists were frustrated. pic.twitter.com/iv2igLUuPX
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022
The mass vandalism event was organized in response to the death of Amir Locke, a 22-year-old who was shot and killed during a SWAT team raid in Minneapolis last week.
Chants for Amir Locke and Winston Smith as black bloc Antifa disrupted traffic and graffitied all up and down Lake Street in Minneapolis tonight. pic.twitter.com/6FCWzXamM0
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022
At some points, the demonstrators marched through residential streets and created “barricades wherever they could,” according to Brannon.
Protesters chanted throughout residential streets past 9pm creating barricades wherever they could in the streets. #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/7PFR7DJ2Cf
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022
The vandals also threw rocks at and spray-painted the Minneapolis Police Department’s Fifth Precinct.
Outside the Minneapolis Police 5th Precinct where protesters spray-painted & threw rocks at the building, cracking windows. Phones & cameras weren't allowed so it was difficult to capture.
Police never appeared.
The precinct has been barricaded with fences since 2020. pic.twitter.com/gwC9pC7Dau
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022
Crime Watch Minneapolis obtained pictures of some of the vandalism. Some of the graffiti included clear threats to burn down the city again.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 12, 2022
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
