The Minneapolis DFL Ward 10 convention ended in chaos Saturday afternoon as fights broke out and a large police presence responded to the scene.
The convention was gaveled to a close before either City Council Member Aisha Chughtai or candidate Nasri Warsame received the endorsement.
According to Crime Watch Minneapolis, fights broke out around 2 p.m. as more than 300 people gathered at the Ella Baker Community School for the convention. Multiple people were assaulted, including someone who was reportedly hit with a bullhorn, Crime Watch reports.
Apparently fights broke out at the Ward 10 DFL convention around 2 p.m. Large police response including the chief.
From dispatch:
Multiple 911 callers.
300 people were on site, 30-40 were reported to be fighting at one point. Someone was reportedly being struck with a bullhorn.
A…— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 13, 2023
Videos posted online captured the chaos.
More video: pic.twitter.com/uj62t0q8jQ
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) May 14, 2023
Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin said he plans to call an emergency meeting of the party’s executive committee and will propose a bylaw “to ban individuals engaged in violent assaults from the DFL Party.”
Martin blamed the violence on supporters of Warsame, citing video evidence and conversations with participants. Warsame is challenging the incumbent Chughtai, a socialist who has the backing of some of her fellow council members.
She also released a lengthy statement blaming Warsame for the violence.
“What happened at the Ward 10 DFL Convention today was horrifying, unacceptable, and indicative of the growing threat to progressive, pro-people candidates and movement leaders. Today, during the Ward 10 Convention, the Nasri Warsame campaign continually made people feel unsafe. They intimidated delegates and alternates, harassed and threatened DFL volunteers, and assaulted me and my supporters,” she said.
Warsame, however, said one of his delegates was sent to the hospital and claimed his campaign manager was assaulted by Chughtai’s campaign staff.
“Violence & unfairness have no place in democracy!” he wrote on Facebook.
Minneapolis DFL Chair Briana Rose Lee alleged on Twitter that four members of the state executive committee were assaulted during the convention.
“I would like to apologize to City Council Member Aisha Chughtai, her supporters, and her campaign team for the way they were treated at the Ward 10 convention,” Martin added. “Our candidates and supporters deserve a safe forum to campaign at, and the Ward 10 convention fell far short of that. Our party will work with local leaders in Minneapolis to ensure future events are not marred by reprehensible conduct.”
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
