Hundreds of counterprotesters overwhelmed a small, far-right rally organized in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The demonstration, led by conservative influencer Jake Lang, was intended to support the Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement actions and protest against local immigrant communities, particularly Somali residents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Lang had used social media to announce a dramatic protest, including talk of burning a Quran on the steps of City Hall, though it is unclear whether that act occurred. Only a small handful of supporters showed up for his rally. In contrast, hundreds of counterprotesters gathered at the site, chanting and yelling over Lang as he tried to speak. They ultimately chased Lang and his supporters away from the area, forcing at least one person to remove an offensive shirt and stopping the pro-ICE message from proceeding.
As Lang left, he appeared to be injured, with visible bruises and scrapes on his head. Law enforcement later arrived with an armored vehicle and heavily equipped police officers.
The tension in Minneapolis comes amid ongoing unrest relating to federal immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security has deployed more than 2,000 federal agents in the Twin Cities, prompting daily protests and clashes with authorities in recent weeks.
Minnesota’s National Guard has been mobilized to support state patrol and local law enforcement, though at the time of the Saturday rally, they had not been deployed on the streets.
Lang, who previously received presidential clemency after being charged with assaulting an officer and other crimes related to the January 6 Capitol attack, recently announced a campaign for the U.S. Senate in Florida.
