Great Lakes Wire

Aric Nesbitt, a Michigan State Senator, attributed blame to Democrat politicians and the media for rhetoric that he claims encourages attacks on law enforcement during recent raids in Minneapolis. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Violent individuals spurred on by the rhetoric of Democrat politicians are attacking law enforcement trying to do their jobs," said Aric Young Nesbitt, State Senator for Michigan. "When will the media hold Democrats accountable for inciting this violence? This is what happened…"

According to reports, violence against law enforcement has increased during federal drug, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and human trafficking raids in Minneapolis's Latino neighborhoods. A raid conducted on June 3 by ICE, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office led to protests over immigration concerns. Officials clarified that the operation targeted drug and money laundering activities rather than immigration issues. Community members expressed concerns about tactical vehicles being present at Latino-owned businesses amidst sanctuary policies and a "separation ordinance." These raids are connected to a significant methamphetamine seizure weighing 900 pounds and an ongoing trafficking investigation, highlighting debates surrounding sanctuary city policies regarding immigrant trust versus crime enforcement.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's 2023 Uniform Crime Report indicates a sharp rise in assaults on law enforcement officers in Minnesota, with incidents increasing from 467 statewide in 2019 to 1,062 in 2022. In 2023 alone, there were 961 separate assault incidents involving 1,206 officers. In the Twin Cities area specifically, officers have reported at least 3,400 assaults since 2021, with a notable increase last year according to data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. These statistics align with FBI reports indicating record-high assaults on law enforcement nationally in both 2021 and 2022.

Federal raids related to drug, money laundering, and human trafficking investigations have increasingly been associated with volatile incidents. A recent operation linked to a substantial methamphetamine bust in Burnsville resulted in eight search warrants being executed—including one at a Minneapolis taco restaurant—leading to aggressive actions and arrests. Among these was a charge for assaulting agents during protests as reported by the Minnesota Reformer. FBI data reveals that responses to narcotics violations accounted for 4,879 out of approximately 79,091 nationwide assaults on officers in 2023.

Nesbitt is a Republican who has served in the Michigan State Senate since January 2019. He initially represented the state's 26th District before moving to represent the 20th District as of this year. Since January 2023, he has held the position of Senate Minority Leader. His political career includes three terms in the Michigan House from 2011 to 2017 where he served as Majority Floor Leader and his role as Michigan Lottery Commissioner from 2017 to 2018. Nesbitt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Hillsdale College and an MBA from the Norwegian School of Economics. He previously worked as legislative director for U.S. Representatives Tim Walberg and Tim Murphy.