Video shows confrontation between protesters and driver at Palestinian support rally in Mpls
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A rally in Minneapolis to support Palestinians, as war wages on between Israel and Hamas, was met with a confrontation on Sunday as a car drove through a group of protesters.
Protesters were rallying along the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge, the pedestrian bridge that runs over I-94 in Loring Park, during the early afternoon when the trouble began. Along with staging a protest on the bridge, some protesters were blocking traffic along streets that run along the bridge: Hennepin and Lyndale avenues.
Police say they were alerted around 3:20 p.m. for "multiple reports of disturbances" connected to the demonstration.
Protesters face off with driver
Video filmed by Zach Metzger (@zachforthepeople) shows a confrontation between a driver and protesters in Minneapolis after the driver apparently drove through a rally near Loring Park, but got stuck at a light a couple blocks away. The rally was in support of Palestinians.
Police say they learned that a vehicle had driven through the crowd of protesters. Video from protesters shows part of the incident.
After driving through the crowd, protesters chased after the driver, resulting in a faceoff at Lyndale Avenue north of Groveland Avenue. At that point, protesters catch up with the driver, who is stuck at a traffic light. Some protesters kick the man's vehicle before he backs up, drives over a median crosswalk, and speeds northbound towards Loring Greenway.
Police say there were no injuries as a result of the incident. Investigators are now reviewing what happened.
Officers say there were reports of gunfire during the protest. However, activists tell FOX 9 the shots may have been backfire from ATVs.