RELEASE: Zerwas calls on Walz, Hortman to condemn violent protests, participation by State Rep

Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, was caught on film among protesters who hurled bottles at law enforcement, assaulted peaceful rallygoers

ST. PAUL, MN—On Thursday, tens of thousands of Minnesotans gathered in downtown Minneapolis to attend or protest the rally by President Trump. While protests throughout the day were peaceful, tensions flared Thursday evening following the rally when protesters, including some identified by local media as the violent militant organization Antifa, hurled bottles at police, threw traffic cones at vehicles, physically assaulted rallygoers, and verbally harassed law enforcement. Democrat Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, was spotted on a livestream among the group protesters (at around the 4:00 mark) who were confronting rallygoers outside Target Center and causing the chaos and disruption downtown.  Rep. Nick Zerwas, R-Elk River, called on Governor Tim Walz, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, to condemn the behavior of the protesters, and the involvement of a sitting legislator.

"Thousands of Minnesotans, protesters and rallygoers alike, gathered peacefully in downtown Minneapolis yesterday to exercise their first amendment rights. Our law enforcement officials did an incredible job ensuring safety of those on both sides. However a group of protesters engaged in illegal behavior after the President's speech, assaulting rallygoers, hurling bottles at the police, and throwing traffic cones at cars. Marching among them was a sitting legislator. Governor Walz and Speaker Hortman should be crystal clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable, and elected officials have no excuse for joining those who were at the center of the chaos last night in downtown Minneapolis."

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