A chaotic brawl erupted Saturday at the Minneapolis Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party’s endorsing convention for Ward 10.
According to reports, many supporters of rival candidates fought on stage at the convention.
The chaos reportedly started after supporters of Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai went on stage.
Daily Mail stated that at least one person was hospitalized and another needed medical attention at the event.
From Daily Mail:
The confrontation erupted as backers of Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai took to the stage sending supporters of her challenger, Nasri Warsame, into a rage.
Local party leaders condemned the violence which was spurred when supporters of Warsame began shouting and jeering at Chughtai backers.
A man waving a Warsame sign was the first to rush the stage, before several others joined him, shouting and banging on tables – bringing proceedings to a halt.
The Minneapolis Police Department said it responded to reports of people fighting but did not observe any altercations and made no arrests.
Footage from the chaotic event:
CBS News had additional details:
In a statement released late Saturday night, the DFL said that “it is clear that the conflict was instigated by supporters of city council candidate Narsi Warsame.”
Police say there were multiple reports of injuries and that one man in his 30s went to HCMC with non-life-threatening injuries. EMS treated a woman in her 40s at the scene, also for non-life-threatening injuries.
On Facebook, Warsame wrote that his campaign manager was assaulted by another campaign’s staff member.
“The convention was shut down due to turmoil, and all the people were instructed to exit the building,” Warsame said. “No endorsement at this point, but more questions to ask regarding the process.”
The Star Tribune added:
Martin said on Twitter that he plans to call an emergency meeting of the party’s leadership and will propose banning from the DFL anyone found responsible for the violence on Saturday.
Warsame didn’t respond immediately Sunday to an email seeking comment.
The convention, held at the Ella Baker Global Studies & Humanities Magnet School in the Uptown neighborhood, ended in a frantic scene and with no candidate endorsement.
Video posted to Twitter by John Edwards, who blogs about Minneapolis politics as Wedge Live, shows the chaos break out at the Ward 10 endorsing convention after supporters of Minneapolis Council Member Aisha Chughtai took the stage. Warsame supporters shouted and jeered in the gymnasium, and a man waving a Warsame sign jumped on the stage. More people in Warsame shirts followed and continued to shout, slam on tables and wave signs, disrupting the convention proceedings.
“This is embarrassing!” convention chair Sam Doten shouted, finally adjourning after pleading futilely for order. “We are shutting this down!” he said. “This is no longer safe!”
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