Minneapolis police report that the “Umbrella Man” captured on video writing inflammatory graffiti and breaking windows at an AutoZone auto parts store in the days after George Floyd’s death has ties with white supremacist groups. According to a police spokesperson, his goal was to incite racial tension in the city. They have not released his name. His actions led to an arson fire that transformed peaceful protests into chaos.
Police identified the 32-year-old suspect, who was dressed in an all-black outfit with a hood and gas mask, after an email tip. They believe he is a member of the Hell’s Angels and an associate of the Aryan Cowboy Brotherhood, a white supremacist prison and street gang.
Meanwhile Trump henchman, Attorney General William Barr, was claiming before Congress that he deployed federal agents to police Black Lives Matter protests in Portland and other cities because “Rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests to wreak senseless havoc and destruction on innocent victims.” He did not mention white supremacist provocateurs in his testimony.
Local officials in Portland continually accuse the Trump/Barr military force of inciting tension in the city and demand their removal. Videos show federal agents attacking non-threatening protesters including tear-gassing a peaceful watchdog group called “Wall of Moms” and the city’s mayor. One widely circulated video showed military personnel beating a Navy veteran who was trying to talk with them.
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