A counter-protester dressed in a Spider-Man costume jumped onto a pickup truck and struck far-right activist Jake Lang outside Minneapolis City Hall who organized an anti-Islam rally in which he intended to burn a copy of Holy Quran.
Lang and several associates reportedly attempted to enter City Hall by driving their vehicles along the sidewalk, prompting a strong reaction from counter-protesters.
Demonstrators threw water balloons, bottles and other objects at the vehicles. At one point, a man dressed as Spider-Man climbed onto the back of one of the vehicles and appeared to attempt to attack it. Pepper spray was used by both sides during the confrontation, further escalating tensions.
Minneapolis interim Police Chief Bill Peterson said at a press conference that two vehicles suddenly and rapidly drove onto the sidewalk near City Hall, immediately triggering a confrontation between the crowd and people inside the vehicles.
He said officers initially decided it was unsafe to make arrests amid the crowd and instead focused on removing the vehicles from the area to calm the situation. Later, with assistance from state police, officers stopped both vehicles and detained those involved.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said anyone who drives vehicles on sidewalks and poses a threat to public safety would face strict legal action.
Jay Yates, an organizer with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, criticized the police response, saying they were not intimidated by what he described as racist activities and that public opposition could prevent such groups from achieving their objectives.
Lang has been transferred to the Hennepin County Jail without bail, according to the report.
