Minnesota State Fair Protest Highlights Social Justice Issues, Causes Brief Gate Closure

The Minnesota State Fair's main gate experienced a temporary closure on Saturday afternoon due to a protest that unfolded on Snelling Avenue and Midway Parkway. Beginning just after 1 p.m., Gate 5 was closed briefly to accommodate the demonstration, which was part of the 10th Annual Not Fair: Stop Taking Cheap Shots Rally that started at Hamline Park in St. Paul. Attendees of the fair were redirected to enter through alternative gates, while buses utilizing the main entrance were also paused during the protest.

The rally, primarily organized by Black Lives Matter, drew attention to a range of social issues. Among the placards carried by demonstrators was one calling for a boycott of Target, although the group did not attempt to enter the fairgrounds. The protest was framed by organizers as a peaceful demonstration to highlight community oversight of police and honor the memory of Marcus Golden, who was fatally shot by St. Paul police in 2015. Monique Cullars-Doty, an activist from Black Lives Matter, led the march in tribute to her nephew, seeking to draw attention to the ongoing need for justice and community reform.

Throughout the demonstration, police monitored the situation closely, ensuring the safety of protesters and fair attendees while managing the traffic disruptions caused by the march. The emergency alert system was activated to notify nearby residents of the gate’s temporary closure and subsequent reopening. The protest concluded peacefully with participants returning to Hamline Park, and the main entrance to the fair was reopened at approximately 2:32 p.m., resuming normal operations without any incident.

The event was marked by a symbolic balloon release to honor two children who tragically lost their lives in a recent shooting, further emphasizing the community's call for action against violence. Participants, dressed in red shirts provided by Indivisible Twin Cities, highlighted a broad coalition of local voices advocating for change. Despite the brief disruption to fair activities, the protest maintained its focus on non-violent demonstration, aiming to raise awareness and foster dialogue on critical social issues impacting the community.