**US Quran-Burning Activist Detained After Clashes at Minneapolis Rally**
Minneapolis, MN – Jake Lang, a far-right influencer known for his controversial Quran-burning demonstrations, was arrested on Saturday following violent clashes with counterprotesters outside Minneapolis City Hall. The incident occurred during what Lang had described as a “crusader freedom of speech rally,” which drew significant attention and opposition.
Lang, who previously served four years in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, was taken into custody on suspicion of rioting. His rally was organized in support of Shiloh Hendrix, a woman recently convicted of disorderly conduct after a viral incident where she used a racial slur against an autistic Black child in Rochester, Minnesota. Hendrix received a $1,000 fine, a stayed 90-day jail sentence, one year of supervised probation, and was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey had publicly urged counterprotesters to refrain from attending the rally, labeling it a “lame-a** racist rally” and advising against confrontation. Despite his calls for peace, a large and agitated crowd gathered in anticipation of the event, leading to heightened tensions.
As the rally commenced, Lang arrived in a pickup truck, standing in the bed and holding a sign that read, “Jake Lang loves black people but hates n***ers.” Accompanying him was an associate who held a tall white cross. The provocative display quickly escalated the situation, as counterprotesters attempted to block the vehicles, resulting in chaotic scuffles. Police were deployed to separate the opposing groups, but clashes ensued, leading to a chaotic scene.
According to reports from 5 Eyewitness News, police arrested all seven occupants of Lang's vehicles, including Lang himself, and later detained four additional individuals connected to the unrest. Following his arrest, Lang's official social media account claimed he was “brutally assaulted” and described his detention as being taken “as a political hostage.”
Lang has a history of controversial actions, including previous attempts to burn copies of the Quran in various locations. In November 2025, he attempted to set a Quran on fire in Dearborn, Michigan, which has a significant Muslim population, but was thwarted by counterprotesters. He faced similar opposition in May when he attempted to ignite another copy outside a mosque in Dearborn, only to be interrupted by someone using a fire extinguisher.
In January, Lang made headlines again for a demonstration outside the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC, where he displayed a banner reading “Make Jerusalem Christian Again” and threw chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.
The recent events in Minneapolis underscore the ongoing tensions surrounding free speech and hate speech in the United States, as well as the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing protests that can quickly escalate into violence. The situation remains under investigation as authorities assess the events that unfolded during the rally.