Protesters gathered outside Sherburne County jail on Wednesday, demanding the release of Isabel Lopez, 27, who was being held after being federally charged for assaulting law enforcement while they were serving a warrant in Minneapolis.
“No good cops. No bad protesters. Every prisoner is a political prisoner,” the protesters chanted.
🚨 Minnesota leftists are now protesting for woman to be released after she assaulted federal agents conducting a drug and human trafficking raid in Minneapolis.
This is what mental illness looks like. pic.twitter.com/cM0gzyJJYd
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) June 12, 2025
A group that calls themselves “Minneapolis ICE Watch” posted a video of protesters shining each other’s shoes with the American flag. Democratic state Rep. Leigh Finke of St. Paul participated in the protest, saying: “I drove to Elk River this morning to join protesters calling for the release of Isa Lopez. We must stand up against this campaign of terror waged by [ICE] and other federal agents against our neighbors.”
During a protest Wednesday demanding the release of Isabel Lopez, an Instagram account called Minneapolis ICE Watch posted a video of protesters shining their shoes with an American flag. pic.twitter.com/Y4xcu93Qli
— Hayley Feland (@HayleyFeland) June 13, 2025
Lopez was conditionally released on Thursday following a hearing while she awaits trial. She reportedly pled not guilty to all four charges she is facing. BLCK Press reported that 150 “community members” were chanting, drumming, and dancing in support of Lopez outside the federal courthouse where her hearing was.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Lopez wrote in an Instagram post recounting her encounter with law enforcement prior to her arrest. “The language of this administration is violences [sic] and greed. Since the begging [sic] of this administration I’ve seen them cause so much unessecary [sic] violence into families and communities. From seporating [sic] babies from there [sic] mothers to having inhumane conditions to the facilites [sic] they are taking undocumented people in.”
Photos posted to Lopez’s Facebook page include one of a pig head with a police cap and a bloody eye, along with the caption “ACAB.” Lopez was featured in a “Portraits of Activists” exhibition at the Cargill Gallery in Minneapolis in 2021.
In 2020, she was instrumental in a protest that led to a restaurant changing its name after accusations of cultural appropriation. The restaurant, named Elotes Woodfired Cantina, changed its name and removed “Elotes” after the pushback. People who objected to the name said the elotes dish has spiritual significance to Mexican and Indigenous people.
“I spoke to Brian and he said he’s changing the name. I’m sorry it had to come down to this, but people messaged him and tried to tell him that this was going to be problematic. He still went ahead and painted the signs all with Elotes,” Lopez told Unicorn Riot at the time. She was identified as a youth organizer and community activist.
According to federal authorities, Lopez physically assaulted several agents and officers during a law enforcement operation in Minneapolis last week, which was falsely rumored to be an immigration raid. Lopez is accused of punching, kicking and shoving agents and officers.
The operation was “related to a long-term investigation into narcotics trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, and related offenses.”
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
