A group protesting charges against 15 people accused of anti-ICE actions was sprayed by law enforcement with a chemical irritant outside the federal courthouse in St. Paul.
It happened in the 2 o’clock hour Tuesday afternoon, just hours after the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced charges against 15 people allegedly tied to two Minneapolis-based antifa groups.
RELATED: US Attorney for Minnesota charges 15 anti-ICE protesters, alleging ties to antifa groups
Several of those defendants were appearing in court for the first time at 2 p.m.
“We tried to get into the courthouse to pack the court,” a protester told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. However, after the court filled up, the protester said their group waited outside and held the courthouse doors open.
A protester reacts after being sprayed with a chemical irritant outside the St. Paul federal courthouse on June 16, 2026. (KSTP-TV)
After initially refusing an order to shut the courthouse doors, the protester said security deployed tear gas or some other chemical irritant.
Video captured by a 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS photographer showed an orange chemical on the outside of a door to the courthouse, where two apparent chemical canisters remained on the ground.
Dozens of protesters were heard chanting, “Drop the charges, drop them now.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to the U.S. Marshals for comment on what happened but hasn’t yet heard back.
This is a developing story. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has crews at the scene and will continue to update this story as more details are confirmed.
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