Minneapolis police say they are “hyper aware” that a weekend protest could spill into the Cedar‑Riverside area, and the department has already shifted officers into the West Bank in an effort to head off harassment. Inspector Bill Peterson told residents the plan is to stage uniformed officers in marked squad cars in the neighborhood before the demonstration starts and keep them there until it is over. Many neighbors said seeing squads in the area made them feel a bit safer, though some are still pushing for tougher safeguards.
The march, billed online as the “March Against Minnesota Fraud” and organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang, is set to kick off at Minneapolis City Hall on Saturday, with Lang urging supporters to “take back” Minnesota. At a Jan. 13 public safety meeting, residents voiced concern that participants could push into neighborhoods with large Somali communities to record video or provoke confrontations, according to Star Tribune. MinnPost also reported that MPD specifically described Cedar‑Riverside as a potential target, and that neighborhood leaders pressed for a clear communication plan with police.
Police plan and community meeting
Speaking at a West Bank Business Association meeting, MPD Inspector Bill Peterson laid out what neighbors can expect as the march approaches. “You can expect to see uniformed Minneapolis police officers in marked squad cars within this neighborhood before the event kicks off, and our plan is to keep them here throughout the event,” he told the group, according to the Star Tribune. Peterson said the department will consider closing roads and using other tactics in real time, depending on how the demonstration unfolds. Residents at the meeting urged officers to set up a system for rapid updates so community leaders can warn neighbors as the situation changes.
Federal searches and vehicle unrest
While the city prepares for the march, federal agencies have been busy elsewhere in Minneapolis. Federal agents executed search warrants in south Minneapolis this week as part of an investigation into items stolen from federal vehicles. One family told WCCO their home was mistakenly targeted and left ransacked after the search. The operation included assistance from the ATF and the FBI, and officials say a suspect has now been arrested.
Federal authorities also announced an arrest and an FBI reward tied to a string of vandalism and break‑ins involving government vehicles. Video from the scene showed people opening unmarked government SUVs and removing documents, according to MPR News.
Subpoena at hospital heightens privacy fears
On a separate front, the Department of Homeland Security has subpoenaed I‑9 employment forms from Hennepin Healthcare, and hospital leaders say they turned over the records while following federal rules. I‑9 forms contain sensitive personal information, including employees’ home addresses, Social Security numbers and copies of identification documents, a level of disclosure that has rattled immigrant advocates, according to Bring Me The News. Hospital officials told reporters they complied with the subpoena to avoid possible civil or criminal penalties.
Neighbors push for road closures and rapid updates
At a separate meeting at the Brian Coyle Community Center in Cedar‑Riverside, residents urged police to preemptively block key streets and to set up a rapid‑alert system so neighborhood leaders can quickly spread the word if the march veers off its stated route, according to MinnPost. The requests reflect broader anxiety among Somali and East African residents that demonstrators could show up in the neighborhood to film or harass people. Some community leaders said an early and visible police presence is a step in the right direction, but they are also asking for written protocols and designated community liaisons in place before the protest begins.
Legal implications
The subpoena and the search warrants highlight how federal authorities are shaping the overall response. Employers are legally required to produce I‑9s for inspection and can face penalties if they refuse, Bring Me The News reports. The ATF confirmed it executed a search warrant in Minneapolis but declined to offer further details, citing an ongoing operation, according to WCCO. Civil‑rights advocates say the combination of federal enforcement and a high‑profile protest raises difficult questions about privacy, community trust and how far law enforcement should go in its tactics…