Thousands rally in Minneapolis as immigration anger boils

Minneapolis has become the epicenter of the immigration policy backlash after two protesters, both US citizens, were shot dead by federal agents this month.

"I don't think our federal government should be terrorizing our people like this," Sushma Santhana, 24, told AFP as protesters chanted "our streets!" around her.

The crowd gathered in freezing temperatures after Bruce Springsteen performed at an anti-ICE concert in the city. The US rock legend recently released "Streets of Minneapolis," a tribute to the two killed protesters. 

Another protester, 24-year-old Max Maffor, said he was demonstrating "to conserve what we would consider our democracy and all the liberties that we get from living in America."

Rallies were also underway across Los Angeles, where immigration raids last year sparked protests, with thousands carrying signs outside City Hall. 

- Journalist charged -

Earlier Friday, the Trump administration charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon and eight others with civil rights violations, after he and other reporters covered a protest at a church where an ICE official is a pastor.

The journalist's lawyer said he was taken into custody in Los Angeles overnight, adding that his work covering the protest "was no different to what he has always done."

He faces two charges of conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with First Amendment rights, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told AFP, referencing the constitutional protection for freedom of expression, including religion.

Political figures and media advocates condemned Lemon's arrest, with Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling for his immediate release.

"This is an egregious attack on the First Amendment and on journalists' ability to do their work," said Committee to Protect Journalists CEO Jodie Ginsberg.

Lemon was released from custody after a short court hearing in Los Angeles, US media reported. His next hearing is in Minneapolis on February 9. 

- Civil rights probe -

Trump meanwhile walked back his conciliatory tone to describe Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse gunned down on Saturday, as an "agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist" after new footage allegedly of Pretti emerged.

AFP could not immediately verify the video, in which a man said to be Pretti is seen kicking and breaking the taillight of the agents' car before they emerge and tackle him to the ground.

Some Minneapolis residents were unstirred by the footage.

"So the guy kicked a car's light, does that mean he deserved to die?" Pedro Wolcott, a Latino sandwich shop owner, told AFP. 

The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti's death, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Friday. There is no similar probe for Renee Good, also fatally shot by agents in January. 

- Government shutdown -

Trump had claimed he wanted to "de-escalate a little bit" in the fallout of the deaths and appointed a new point man in Minneapolis, top immigration adviser Tom Homan.

Homan said that "certain improvements could and should be made," a marked difference in tone from his predecessor on the ground, combative Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino.

He also said his staff was "working on a drawdown plan" for some of the more than 3,000 federal agents, if there was greater cooperation from the local authorities in the Democratic-run city.

Backlash over the deaths of Pretti and Good has landed in Congress, just before a government funding deadline.

Democrats have drawn a red line around funding for the Department of Homeland Security, demanding it be stripped out and renegotiated to impose new constraints on immigration enforcement agencies.

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