Far-right activist chased away by counterdemonstrators while leading small rally in Minneapolis

Jim Vondruska/Getty Images via CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 18 JAN 26 12:32 ET

Updated: 18 JAN 26 22:15 ET

(CNN) — Right-wing influencer Jake Lang was chased away by counterdemonstrators while leading a small rally in Minneapolis amid tensions over the Trump administration’s sweeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the Twin Cities.

Lang is among the January 6 defendants granted clemency by President Donald Trump. He was charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes.

Before his anti-Somali, anti-Islam demonstration Saturday, called the “March Against Minnesota Fraud,” Lang said on social media he intended to “burn a Quran” on the steps of City Hall. CNN affiliate KARE reported he did not burn a Quran.

Lang appeared to have bruises and scrapes on his head as he left the scene of the altercation Saturday, according to The Associated Press. An image reposted by Lang appears to show a cut at the back of his head, and in another post, Lang said he had been stabbed.

“I was just literally lynched by an anti white mob of liberals & illegal immigrants,” Lang posted on social media.

No official reports of Lang being injured or assaulted were filed with police, the Minneapolis Police Department said in a statement to CNN, though it said it’s aware of social media posts about the incident.

“MPD encourages anyone who has experienced assaultive behavior to report the incident as soon as possible and provide as much detail as they can, including the date, time, and location of the incident, a description of any suspects, and the nature and extent of any injuries sustained,” MPD said.

MPD called Lang’s post alleging that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told police to stand down from the altercation “untrue.” The department said there was no direct communication between MPD and Lang, nor were any arrangements made for a police escort.

CNN has not independently verified Lang’s claims.

CNN has reached out to Lang for comment.

Around 100 people were already gathered for a protest near City Hall when Lang arrived just before noon, MPD said.

Lang’s group was outnumbered by a much larger group of counterdemonstrators, KARE reported. The Minneapolis Police Department told CNN Saturday evening officers gave a dispersal order but made no arrests, and the crowd “eventually dispersed without incident.”

The city has seen rising tensions after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in her SUV earlier this month. Good’s death sparked protests against ICE and the use of aggressive tactics by armed, masked agents across the country.

The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers in Alaska to prepare for deployment to Minnesota, according to a Trump administration source, as state officials have also mobilized the National Guard.

Lang is running for US Senate in Florida.

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