“You’re killing our community!”
In a bizarre scene at the state capitol this morning, protestors, including sitting DFL members of the state legislature, attempted to break into the Governor’s reception room where a budget deal was being announced by other elected Democrats.
They were protesting the reported inclusion in the deal of a provision defunding a program providing free health care to illegal alien adults. The protestors equate the budget-tightening provision to genocide.
The scene inside the room was captured by a Fox 9 camera:
Progressive caucus chants during Gov. Tim Walz budget press conference.
Just days before the legislative session is set to end, Gov. Walz announced an agreement has been reached between legislative leaders on state budget targets. pic.twitter.com/O57BRTPIGK
— FOX 9 (@FOX9) May 15, 2025
The man standing in the foreground of the video is Sahan Journal reporter Joey Peters. KARE-11 captured the scene just outside of the door.
DFL lawmakers pounded on the door of the Governor’s Reception Room during the budget press conference in protest of leadership’s compromise on stripping adult undocumented immigrants from state health care. “One Minnesota, right!” they chanted. @kare11 pic.twitter.com/VhkTEGOZdI
— Danny Spewak (@DannySpewak) May 15, 2025
The Minnesota Star Tribune posted additional footage from the adjoining hallway.
A group of DFL lawmakers are protesting the budget deal struck by Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders that ends health care coverage for undocumented immigrant adults #mnleg pic.twitter.com/0Eb6xctZqQ
— Ryan Faircloth (@RyanFaircloth) May 15, 2025
Figures on the left of the screen appear to include, among others, state Sen. Omar Fateh (DFL-Minneapolis), Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley), and state Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL-St. Paul). Across from Rep. Hussein, on the right, you can spot Rep. Aisha Gomez (DFL-Minneapolis), chair of the Committee on Taxes. We have reports from the scene of as many as 30 sitting reps and senators attending the protest.
Faircloth has posted his story at the Star Tribune website. He discusses reaction to the budget deal,
In an immediate sign of pushback, a group of DFL lawmakers protested outside the governor’s reception room at the Capitol as Walz and legislative leaders discussed the deal, repeatedly banging on the door and chanting, “Don’t kill immigrants!”
Appearing at the press conference to announce the budget deal were Gov. Tim Walz, House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R), former House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D), and Senate DFL leader Erin Murphy. Conspicuous by his absence was GOP Senate leader Mark Johnson.
I describe the scene unfolding within the offices of Gov. Tim Walz as “bizarre,” but what qualifies as bizarre in Minnesota politics is being redefined by the hour.