This morning, President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota after a federal agent shot a man in the leg following an alleged attack on the agent.
The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the president to deploy troops within the U.S. It hasn’t been used in decades, with the last instance during the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King beating.
On Wednesday night in north Minneapolis, witnesses reported hearing gunshots after a car and foot chase involving federal agents. Authorities stated that a man was shot in the leg after an agent was attacked with a snow shovel and broom.
For several hours, law enforcement clashed with about 200 demonstrators, using chemical irritants and flash bangs, while some protesters vandalized vehicles.
The shooting heightened tensions between protesters and ICE agents, especially following the recent shooting death of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
Before the shooting, Governor Tim Walz urged the Trump administration to “end this occupation” during a live address about the increasing presence of federal immigration agents in Minnesota. He also encouraged peaceful protests and recording federal agents with phones.
