The sculpture was installed by members of a veterans organization and other community leaders in protest of federal immigration operations.
ST PAUL, Minn. — An ice sculpture calling to “Prosecute ICE” was destroyed outside the Minnesota State Capitol just hours after it was unveiled on Thursday.
The sculpture was installed by members of the veterans organization Common Defense and other community leaders in protest of federal immigration operations in Minnesota. During the unveiling, the groups also called for accountability in the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
MORE KARE 11 COVERAGE: ICE in Minnesota
However, a few hours later, pardoned Jan. 6 far-right activist Jake Lang posted a video to social media appearing to show himself kicking over several of the letters in the sculpture. He later posted that he was being arrested.
The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed Lang was pulled over a short distance from the Capitol and taken into custody “without incident.” He was transported to the Ramsey County Jail to be booked on “suspicion of criminal damage to property.” He was listed in the Ramsey County Jail roster as of late Thursday afternoon.
In a statement, the veterans group responsible for the sculpture called for Lang to be prosecuted.
“I gave eight years of my life in service to this country in the military. For a January 6 insurrectionist to destroy our display is an attack on the First Amendment veterans like me fought to defend,” said Common Defense communications director Jacob Thomas. “Like the ICE agents who murdered Alex Pretti and (Renee) Good — these criminals need to be prosecuted.”
Lang previously drew attention last month in an attempt to lead an anti-Muslim rally in Minneapolis, but was chased off by crowds before he attempted to burn a Quran outside city hall.