Minnesota officials cited white nationalist groups promoting violence, despite right-wing conservatives who argue Soros is to blame for the protests.
As Minnesota officials blamed violent protests on organized groups from out of state, far-right commentators on Twitter increasingly began blaming billionaire George Soros for playing a shadowy role behind the riots taking place in cities across the country—employing an old conspiracy theory based on false information and anti-semitic tropes.
“The people that are doing this are not Minneapolis residents,” Minneapolis Mayor Frey said of the protests on Saturday. “They are coming in largely from outside of the city, from outside of the region.” Saint Paul Mayor Carter also confirmed that every person arrested in his city last night was from out of state: “We don’t know these folks.”
Even President Trump, while not naming Soros, blamed the protests on “ANTIFA and the Radical Left.” Attorney General William Barr, in a statement, similarly condemned “far left extremist groups using Antifa-like tactics” for the civil unrest.
