Fourteen pro-Palestine protesters were cited for trespassing after they climbed over a fence to stage a “sit-in” on the front lawn of the Minnesota governor’s residence Wednesday.
The Minnesota State Patrol said about 100 people showed up to demonstrate outside of the University of Minnesota’s Eastcliff Mansion, which serves as a temporary home for Gov. Tim Walz while the primary governor’s mansion undergoes renovations.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m., a group called the Minnesota Anti-War Committee posted on social media that several protesters had “begun a sit-in on the property of Gov. Tim Walz to demand state divestment from Israel and its system of occupation, apartheid and genocide.”
BREAKING: Palestine protesters have begun a sit-in on the property of @GovTimWalz to demand state divestment from Israel and its system of occupation, apartheid and genocide. pic.twitter.com/0vQ52HnxyX
— MN Anti-War Committee (@AntiwarMN) February 28, 2024
The State Patrol said 14 people made “a poor decision to go over the fence and entered private property.” A total of 12 adult females and two adult males were cited for trespassing and released. St. Paul police assisted the State Patrol and no use of force or injuries were reported.
At one point, protesters “attempted to get closer to the house to try to speak with Walz,” according to the Anti-War Committee.
UPDATE: After 2 hours of sitting-in on the grounds of the governor’s residence, demonstrators attempted to get closer to the house to try to speak with Walz. State troopers quickly began making arrests. In all, 14 protesters were arrested and released onsite.
FREE PALESTINE! 🇵🇸 https://t.co/KSsHNrxRff pic.twitter.com/buxgpx5knK
— MN Anti-War Committee (@AntiwarMN) February 29, 2024
“We support the right to exercise one’s First Amendment rights, but jumping a fence and trespassing on private property is not the way to do that. This type of behavior will not be tolerated and enforcement action will be taken,” said State Patrol public information officer Lt. Jill Frankfurth.
