Neighbors could hear it from two blocks away, the hatred, the anger. It didn't sound like a typical Pride event, they said, which is usually about love and acceptance, maybe even acceptance of people who have different views.
The chaos from Loring Park on Sunday was a quintessential moment in the Minneapolis of today; confused, irrational and violent. No weapons were used, they explained.
But violence was what it was.
During the event, which was attended by council member Andrea Jenkins, a Black, trans woman very familiar with the people who organized the event, an argument broke out between Jenkins and numerous protesters. She wasn't doing enough to curb police violence on Black people, they said; never mind that Jenkins was one of the people who stood up and called for defunding the Police Department.
So there it was, woke vs. woke in a Minneapolis park.
Jenkins tried to leave the park, according to reports, but her car was surrounded by the protesters, who chanted, screamed obscenities and tried to force Jenkins to agree to a half dozen — and ever expanding — list of demands, including that she call for the resignation of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
At first, Jenkins was indignant, even dishing back some smack to the thugs who were standing in front of her car. But it went on for so long — perhaps 90 minutes — that Jenkins asked them to order from Chipotle. The protesters then argued whether they should provide a meal to their hostage, or perhaps she should buy a meal for them because of her large salary as a public servant.
Believe it or not, that was as lucid as the protesters got.