By Trendsetter Tribune 
A far-right rally aimed at stoking outrage over immigration and Islam collapsed Saturday in downtown Minneapolis, ending with organizer Jake Lang fleeing City Hall after being surrounded by hundreds of counter-protesters.
Lang, a pardoned January 6 defendant and self-declared Florida U.S. Senate candidate, arrived wearing protective gear and promoting confrontation. Instead, his small group of supporters was quickly overwhelmed. Counter-protesters drowned out chants, seized signs, and pelted Lang with eggs, snowballs, and water balloons, forcing him into a retreat against City Hall windows.
Videos circulating online show Lang visibly injured and distressed as police attempted to clear the area using pepper balls, tear gas, and a dispersal order. No arrests were reported. The rally ended with Lang being escorted away toward a waiting vehicle by two young Black men, a moment that sparked widespread reaction online given Lang’s long record of targeting Black and Muslim communities.
The confrontation unfolded amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE agent earlier this month. Demonstrators were already gathered near City Hall when Lang arrived shortly before noon, according to police.
Lang had advertised the event as a “March Against Minnesota Fraud” and claimed he intended to burn a Quran on the steps of City Hall, which did not occur. Witnesses described sustained clashes, shoving, and crowd pressure before police intervened.
After leaving the scene, Lang posted on social media claiming he had been “nearly lynched” and called on President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard. Minneapolis police disputed his claims, saying no official assault report was filed and denying that officers were ordered to stand down.
Lang later left the city after being removed from a downtown hotel, according to witnesses.
The incident drew sharp reactions online, with critics mocking Lang’s portrayal of events and supporters condemning the crowd’s tactics. Others pointed to Lang’s history of staging provocative rallies that target minority communities and generate media attention.
Lang previously received clemency from President Trump despite facing charges related to January 6, including assaulting a police officer. Since his release, he has escalated his public profile through extremist activism, fundraising, and a Senate bid in Florida.