Dueling protests turn heated near Governor’s Residence in St. Paul

Opposing groups of protesters gathered Saturday outside the Governor’s Residence in St. Paul, and while the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, police say there were some altercations and instances of vandalized cars nearby.

An estimated 250 people were in attendance as Minnesota State Patrol troopers in riot gear, alongside several local law enforcement agencies, lined up between the two sides.

One group voiced support for law enforcement while calling for an end to statewide COVID-19 restrictions; a Black Lives Matter counter-demonstration rallied against police brutality.

There were a few scuffles between protesters, but no one was seriously injured, according to the St. Paul Police Department. Several vehicles parked on Chatsworth Avenue between Summit and Grand avenues had their tires slashed and windshields spray painted.

Police say two people were cited for disorderly conduct and investigators are looking into the vandalized vehicles.