Leftist extremists reportedly set up an autonomous zone near where leftist agitator Renee Good was killed by immigration authorities in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Much like the autonomous zones established across the country during the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020, the zone in Minneapolis contained makeshift barricades and posted “guards.”
The “guards” were left-wing extremists themselves who were reportedly dressed as if they were officials and barking orders at people.
“An ‘AUTONOMOUS ZONE’ has been declared by leftists in Minneapolis, and is being referred to as a ‘NO-GO ZONE’ for police,” journalist Nick Sortor posted on X, along with a video from the scene.
“This zone spans for SEVERAL BLOCKS, and residents are BARRED from driving to their homes.”
🚨 WTF?! Leftists have now put up BLOCKADES with trash and stolen items in Minneapolis to block federal agents after the anti-ICE terror attack
Jacob Frey and the City Police Chief are 100% DERELICT and should resign. It’s like a 3rd world country.pic.twitter.com/d0p6KY2L1U
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 8, 2026
One unnamed journalist who was on scene Thursday described seeing the “guards” in action.
“They’ve blocked a couple blocks off,” she began. “This is not police putting in barricades. This is not like any type of law enforcement doing that, National Guard. This is protesters.”
Protesters who had been “screaming at all of us in media, telling us that we are the problem, and telling us what angles people were allowed to film at and telling us not to film at all.”
“There were also people wearing like fluorescent vests directing traffic,” the journalist continued, describing how passersby were being “barked orders at by people who look like they’re official.”
The journalist also described seeing a van full of supplies arriving on scene and being unloaded by the militant protesters.
“Leaving the ICE protests in Minneapolis right now. Here’s the reality on the ground.” pic.twitter.com/uJV1yomz95
— Sebastian™ (@Azariel91) January 9, 2026
CBS News reported early Friday morning that one makeshift barrier “around Good’s memorial at 34th and Portland Avenue” was being dismantled by the actual authorities.
“The city says they want people to hold space for Good’s memorial, but blocking a public street is a public safety hazard,” the network revealed. “Fire officials also say it’s important to remove the barriers so their crews could get through.”
“Safety has to come first—every second matters when lives are on the line,” fire chief Melanie Rucker said. “Just up the street from this location, our crews were actively fighting a three-alarm fire on Monday night. When streets are blocked, it slows our response, limits access to critical resources and puts both residents and emergency responders at risk.”
However, the city also vowed to not mess with Good’s memorial.
Meanwhile, crews gathered outside the Whipple Federal Building, which CBS News described as “the command center of federal agents,” to erect their own protective concrete barriers.
Schools in and around Minneapolis mostly still remained closed as of Friday, though a couple had reportedly switched to so-called “e-learning” for the time being.
“Fridley Public Schools said classes are canceled for Friday, Jan. 9, due to ‘fear and disruption’ the community has faced in the last 24 hours from ICE activity,” according to local station KMSP.
“Columbia Heights Public School posted on social media that classes for Friday would be moving online ‘out of an abundance of caution,'” the reporting continued.
Critics, meanwhile, were worried that Minneapolis was on track for months of protests and demonstrations just as happened after convicted drug abuser George Floyd’s death in police custody in 2020.
“As in 2020, city officials and @MinneapolisPD have ceded the streets to far-left extremists. The roads are illegally shut down and an autonomous zone has been set up where Renee Good died,” journalist Andy Ngo tweeted on Thursday.
In fairness, by Friday, some barricades had started to come down. Overall, however, protesters were still swarming the streets.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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