“This should never have happened”: A ferocious brawl broke out at the Minnesota Democratic Convention when more than 40 supporters of rival candidates clashed onstage
- The Minneapolis Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) Consent Convention for District 10 descended into chaos on Saturday
- Shocking footage showed people fighting after supporters of Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai took the stage
- At least one person was hospitalized in the incident and police were called to the scene, but no arrests were made
A ferocious brawl broke out at a Democratic convention in Minnesota on Saturday when dozens of supporters of rival candidates clashed on stage.
The convention for District 10 of the Minneapolis Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party ended with at least one person hospitalized, another requiring medical attention at the scene and receiving no assistance.
“This is embarrassing,” exclaimed Congressman Sam Doten as the ugly scenes escalated. “We’re closing this – it’s not safe anymore.”
The confrontation erupted when supporters of Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai took to the stage and enraged supporters of their challenger, Nasri Warsame.
Chaos reigned at a Minnesota Democratic convention when dozens of supporters of rival candidates clashed
Local party leaders condemned the violence unleashed when Warsame supporters began shouting and taunting Chughtai supporters.
A man waving a Warsame sign was the first to burst onto the stage, before several others joined him, shouting and banging tables – bringing the whole thing to a halt.
Minneapolis police said they responded to reports of people fighting but did not observe any altercations and made no arrests.
According to CBS News, a man in his 30s was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and paramedics were treating a woman in her 40s at the scene.
In a Facebook post after the clashes, Warsame said his campaign manager was “attacked by another campaign worker and is now being transported to hospital by an ambulance.”
Local party leaders condemned the violence unleashed when Warsame supporters began shouting and taunting Chughtai supporters
Minneapolis police said they responded to reports of people fighting but did not observe any altercations and made no arrests
“Convention was closed due to riots and all people were ordered to leave the building,” Warsame continued.
“There is no consent at this stage, but there are further questions to be asked about the process.”
DFL party leader Ken Martin described the incident as “extremely discouraging”.
“I would like to apologize to the delegates, volunteers and campaign teams who attended today’s convention… This should never have happened.”
Chughtai criticized her opponent for failing to stop his supporters from storming the stage and claimed more than a dozen of her supporters were “physically assaulted”.
“Eventually, our supporters locked themselves in our reception room to keep them safe and escape a rapidly escalating and dangerous situation,” she said.
“The Warsame campaign followed us off the ground, only held back by a group of brave volunteers who blocked a hallway while our supporters escaped the locked guest room through a back door of the building to safety.”
Fighting broke out after supporters of councilwoman Aisha Chughtai, pictured, took the stage
Challenger Nasri Warsame, pictured, said his campaign manager was assaulted in the brawl
Minneapolis DFL chairwoman Briana Rose condemned the scenes on Twitter, confirming that “several DFL volunteers were assaulted”.
“The conduct exhibited today was despicable and unacceptable,” Lee wrote. “I don’t know the next steps yet.” But there will be consequences.’
Speaking to the Star Tribune, Wedge Live blogger John Edwards, who shared footage of the scuffle, said it’s unclear exactly what sparked the clashes.
“I don’t know what triggered it,” he said. “People just spontaneously came onto the stage.”