Tipsheet

St. Paul Mayor Provides Greater Insight Into Who Is Taking Part In Riots

Beth Baumann
Beth Baumann  |  May 30, 2020 11:47 AM

Major cities across the nation, including Minneapolis, Washington, D.C. and New York City, have seen riots in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed when a white officer shoved his knee into Floyd's neck. Some have suspected that those who are "protesting" are from outside the area. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said Friday night that he suspected, but couldn't confirm, that white supremacists and potentially even the drug cartel, were involved in these riots.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter confirmed during a Saturday morning press conference that most of the havoc was caused by those from out-of-state.

"In St. Paul, last night, and across our Twin Cities, the curfew went into effect. Because we had a relative stillness in St. Paul we didn't make an enormous number of arrests but every single person we arrested last night, I'm told, was from out-of-state," Carter said. "What we are seeing right now is a group of people who are not from here."

According to Carter, city leaders who are continually involved in "the movement" have no idea who the agitators are. 

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"I ask them what they're seeing, what they're feeling, what they're hearing, to a person I hear them say, 'We don't know these folks. We don't know these folks who are agitating. We don't know these folks who are inciting violence. We don't know who these people are who are the first to break in a window,'" the mayor recounted.

Carter explained that people who are coming to his city are "taking advantage of the pain, of the hurt, of the frustration, of the anger, of the very real and legitimate sadness that so many of our community members feel."

The mayor reiterated Gov. Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's sentiments about first responders being overwhelmed by the number of people who are rioting, saying they have never seen anything like this before. 

It's not surprising that people are coming out of the woodwork to protest, especially those who aren't from the area. It's sad that Minnesotans are having to deal with their cities and businesses being broken into, looted and set on fire. Men and women on the front lines – who had nothing to do with this very case – are facing the brunt of people's frustration and hostility.