Video shows brawl between supporters of two Minneapolis City Council candidates

 

An apparent brawl broke out between supporters of two Minneapolis City Council candidates Saturday over nominations.

The brawl, which left two people injured, happened at the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party’s endorsing convention for Minneapolis Ward 10, the Star Tribune reported.

A video posted on social media shows a group of supporters of Minneapolis Council member Aisha Chughtai walking on stage as backers of her challenger, Nasri Warsame, move toward the front of the stage, and the two groups engage in a shouting match.

Some supporters of Warsame jumped on the stage as people attempted to separate the two groups. 

At least one person was treated at a hospital for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, the newspaper said. Minneapolis police spokesman Brian Feintech told the newspaper that no arrests were made. 

Convention chair Sam Doten adjourned the event without a nominee being chosen.

Chughtai says she and her supporters were ‘assaulted’ 

In a statement on her website, Chughtai said more than a dozen of her supporters were physically assaulted and claimed Warsame delegates “charged the stage

assaulting me and my supporters as I was about to begin my convention speech.”

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin said it was “clear that the conflict was instigated by supporters of city council candidate Warsame.” 

“Reprehensible behavior like this from any DFL Party candidate and campaign will not be tolerated,” Martin said in a statement. 

Warsame says campaign manager was ‘transported to hospital'

In a Facebook post, Warsame said his campaign manager was assaulted by a staff member of the Chughtai campaign and responders transported him to the hospital by ambulance. 

“The convention was shut down due to turmoil, and all the people were instructed to exit the building,” Warsame said. 

Warsame also visited one of his delegates in the hospital on Saturday. 

Contributing: The Associated Press