Over the weekend (Jan 16, 2026), the Minnesota National Guard was mobilized to back up local police and emergency teams in Minneapolis. Governor Tim Walz says they are "ready to help support public safety", focusing on protecting life, property, and peaceful assembly ✊🛡️
The move comes after a Jan 7 ICE officer shooting that left 37-year-old Renee Good dead, sparking citywide protests. Local footage suggests she wasn't a threat, intensifying calls for accountability and police reform 📹
Tensions flared when former President Trump threatened to use the Insurrection Act — a law letting the president deploy troops on US soil — to handle the protests. After pushback from Gov Walz and Rep Ilhan Omar, Trump walked back the plan, saying "I don't think I need it right now."
Right now, Guard members are on standby in reflective vests, ready to step in if called. For Minneapolis residents and supporters watching closely, this is a critical moment in the ongoing debate over federal power and community safety 🏙️
Keep following for updates on how this situation evolves and what it means for protest movements and policing in the US.
Reference(s):
Minnesotan National Guard mobilized amid ongoing Minneapolis tensions
cgtn.com
