Situation Report: Antifa/BLM Riots Continue in Minneapolis and Portland

Hundreds rioted in the Brooklyn Center suburb of Minneapolis after a police-involved fatal shooting April 11. 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed following a traffic spot. Police reportedly determined that Wright had “outstanding warrants” and were attempting to arrest him when Wright re-entered his vehicle and attempted to flee the scene. Body camera footage released on April 12 appears to show one of the police officers yelling “I’ll taze you,” and “Taser, taser, taser!” just prior discharging their firearm.

The incident is under investigation.

Tensions rose swiftly throughout the day Sunday, as a protest march quickly devolved into rioting. Reports indicate that dozens of stores were vandalized and robbed. Minnesota State Police and National Guard troops were deployed to the area to reestablish order, and at least 500 National Guard troops are expected to remain in the area.

In one video shared via social media, activists can be heard on a loudspeaker encouraging the targeted doxxing of police and their families.

During the disorder, two men were reported fatally shot by unknown assailants, while a number of other shootings without fatalities were also reported overnight. While the exact motive for each shooting is unknown, it is not uncommon for local criminal elements to utilize the cover of riots and unrest to engage in targeted violence against rivals while police are fully engaged in breaking up rioting.

Meanwhile in Portland, Antifa elements once again launched attacks against the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, a regular target of Antifa-organized riots. Rioters attempted to barricade the ICE facility from the outside, and then used incendiaries in an attempt to burn the building. Such arson attacks are a regular feature of Antifa violence. Despite this a majority of cases involving Antifa attacks on federal law enforcement and federal buildings have reportedly been dismissed.

Antifa-linked groups –including the Youth Liberation Front—have issued calls for actions in Minneapolis, the Pacific Northwest, Chicago, and the District of Columbia in response to the shooting.