At least 29 people have been arrested in Minneapolis during protests over the death of a woman who was shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
One police officer was also injured after a 'chunk of ice was thrown at them', city officials said, during demonstrations which saw 1,000 people take to the streets of the city on Friday night.
Protests against immigration enforcement have been held across the US after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot in her car on Wednesday. The Trump administration stated the agent who fired the shots acted in self-defense, but local officials have asserted that the woman posed no danger.
Minneapolis Police declared an unlawful assembly on Friday night as protesters gathered outside the Canopy Hotel in the city, where some ICE agents were believed to be staying. The police reported that individuals forced entry into the hotel through an alley entrance.
Videos that circulated online showed protesters using bright lights, blowing whistles, and banging on drums. The police department observed that 'well over 1,000' demonstrators were present, with some throwing ice, snow, and rocks at officers and vehicles. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
Despite the disturbances, Police Chief Brian O'Hara noted that the majority of protesters acted peacefully, while promising that those causing damage would be dealt with legally. By 01:00 local time, the crowd had dispersed without the police needing to deploy significant force.
As frustrations grow over ICE's presence in the state, officials declared that they are receiving numerous complaints about the agency’s operations. Three Minnesota congresswomen, attempting to tour an ICE facility, alleged they faced obstruction from ICE officials.
As the community grapples with the implications of Good's death, which has rekindled debates about immigration enforcement and its enforcement tactics, further protests are planned in Minneapolis and across the country.
