WASHINGTON (TNND) — Minneapolis Public Schools cancelled classes for the rest of the week on Wednesday following an altercation between anti-ICE protesters and ICE agents on Roosevelt High School grounds which occurred just hours after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good.
“Out of an abundance of caution, there will be no school on Thursday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 9 due to safety concerns related to today’s incidents around the city,” Minneapolis Public Schools said in a statement.
“All MPS-sponsored programs, activities, athletics and Community Education classes, including adult education, will be canceled.”
The school district shared it would not move to virtual learning because that’s only available during cancellations due to severe weather.
Video footage shared by local news outlet Fox 9 on X showed a crowd on Wednesday gathered outside the school observing several ICE agents kneeled to the ground making an arrest. One of the ICE agents released what appeared to be a chemical irritant in the area, causing the crowd to scatter.
The Department of Homeland Security told CBS News that tear-gas was not used on the protesters.
Cara Morrow, an eyewitness to the altercation, shared with local CBS station WCCO that she arrived at the high school around 3:30 p.m. A graduate of the school, Morrow, said she watched ICE officers tackle a man and noticed one marked SUVs in the premise.
DHS shared in a statement that ICE agents were on the school grounds to apprehend a U.S. citizen who was “actively trying to impede operations” and “rammed his vehicle into a government vehicle,” leading agents on a five-mile chase which ended at the school.
“At no point was a school, students, or staff targeted, and agents would not have been near this location if not for the dangerous actions of this individual,” a spokesperson for the DHS said.
A teacher at the school allegedly assaulted a Border Patrol agent and “threw objects and dispersed paint” onto officers and their vehicle, according to DHS.
Wednesday’s altercation at Roosevelt High School garnered the attention of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Walters, who paid a visit to his alma mater in solidarity with the community.
“I’m a 1969 graduate of Minneapolis Roosevelt. I’m proud of them for what they did. They made me proud as an alumni,” Ventura said.
“Minnesota, we’ll take care of ourselves. We don’t need federal troops coming in here without warrants,” Ventura continued. “You know what? Maybe it’s time for Jesse. I only did one term. I’m owed a second.”
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