HOMEGROWN Minnesota leaders blame outsiders for violence, but jail records show it’s locals

MINNESOTA leaders blamed outsiders for violence in the state - but jail records have shown it's locals.

Out of the 45 people arrested for rioting in the past two days, 38 of them had in-state addresses, according to Fox9.

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The outlet reported that six people had out-of-state addresses and one didn't have address information listed.

However, Governor Tim Walz said his "best estimate" is that 80 percent are from outside the state.

On Saturday, Walz blamed "domestic terror" and lamented the people "attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities" as the increasingly violent protests continued.

Speaking at a press conference, Walz also announced he is fully mobilizing the National Guard for the first time in the state's history.

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"Last night is a mockery of pretending this is about George Floyd's death, or inequities, or historical trauma to our communities of color," Walz said.

"Let's be very clear: The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd," he added.

"It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities."

Walz said last night he believes "white supremacists" and "cartels" were mixing in with crowds of demonstrators.

A spokesperson from the Department of Public Safety said they could not confirm the presence of white supremacists, but that they have gotten intel on the reports.

He continued: "The absolute chaos... this is not grieving, and this is not making a statement that we fully acknowledge needs to be fixed."

He said he is deeply concerned, as he told people: "You need to go home."

The governor added that some of the protesters' intent was just to "destabilize civil society."

He added that the protests "resembles more a military operation" as "ringleaders" move "place-to-place."

Walz said that the state will start releasing data on where the protesters are from.

The governor added that they will figure how protesters are organizing and if they are using the "dark web."

He said his "best estimate" is that 80 percent are from outside the state – and only 20 percent of demonstrators are from Minnesota.

Every person that was arrested last night in St. Paul was from out of state, Mayor Melvin Carter said, as reported by MSNBC.

President Trump, however, said the destruction and violence was the work of leftwing ANTIFA and other members of "the Radical Left."

"Don't lay the blame on others!" Trump tweeted.

Protests across the US have grown increasingly violent in recent days as:

• A preliminary autopsy report revealed that the brutal restraint during his arrest and "underlying health conditions" contributed to Mr Floyd's death
• Officer Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder
• Derek Chauvin's wife, Kelly filed for divorce and said her "sympathy lies" with George's grieving family
• Floyd's grieving girlfriend pleaded for people to demonstrate peacefully because violent riots "would devastate him"
• President Donald Trump praised Secret Service for coming down "hard" on "frisky or out of line" protesters
• Former President Barack Obama said Floyd's death "can't be normal in 2020 America" and said Americans "must be better"

Public outrage was sparked after video emerged of white Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin kneeling for several minutes on the neck of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man.

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Floyd, who was handcuffed and lying face-down on the ground, could be heard saying "I can't breathe" multiple times in the video.

He was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead.

Minnesota's National Guard tweeted Saturday morning that over 1,000 military members would be activating.

"More than 1,000 additional Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen are activating today," the state's National Guard tweeted.

"This is in addition to the 700 that were on duty as of late last night.

"This represents the largest domestic deployment in the Minnesota’s National Guard’s 164-year history," the National Guard added.

Walz spoke with Department of Defense officials about the move, as protests have grown violent in recent days, NBC reported.

Protests began, calling for the arrest of Chauvin and the other three officers involved in the incident.

Chauvin was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Demonstrations have continued, however.

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Walz previously described the demonstrations in the state as "chaotic, dangerous and unprecedented."

Television pictures showed people looting in Minneapolis.

Fires erupted across the city, as people set buildings ablaze amid the demonstrations.

The city implemented an 8pm curfew – but protesters ignored it.

Minnesota's Department of Public Safety said that shots had been fired at officers in Minneapolis.

Walz added that peaceful protests will continue today.

He said that he supports those, and will work to protect that right.

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