No, Tim Walz Did Not Enforce A MN COVID-Curfew With Paint Ball Rounds

MINNEAPOLIS — Misinformation surrounding a May 2020 video recorded in Minneapolis is going viral as political opponents target Gov. Tim Walz, the newly-minted running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris.

A video from May 30, 2020, shows law enforcement sweeping a small, residential street in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Authorities at the time were tasked with enforcing an 8 p.m. curfew in Minneapolis issued by Walz, who was seeking to quell the riots and violent protests that began in the wake of the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

In the video, officers yell at a group of residents to "get inside, now!" several times. The group was standing inside a residential porch and remained there for the moment.

Seconds later, one officer yells: "light 'em up!' and a paint round is fired at the porch. The group of people rushes inside in fear.

The distressing video quickly circulated locally at the time. Many Minnesotans criticized the police for the action, while some blamed the residents for not going inside quickly enough.

Then, the video was resurfaced Tuesday on X and other social media sites with little to no context.

Users incorrectly claimed the police were enforcing a COVID-19 lockdown in Minnesota. Other users falsely said Walz "ordered" police to shoot at residents.

The police action was not related to COVID-19 lockdowns, and there is no evidence that Walz asked officers to shoot paintballs at residents.

Walz, however, has been criticized locally and nationally for not calling in the National Guard soon enough on the rioters in May 2020.

More about the curfew

On Friday, May 29, 2020, Walz signed Executive Order 20-65, implementing a temporary nighttime curfew aiming to "provide safety for Minnesota residents from individuals who have engaged in unlawful and dangerous activity in recent days and threatened the security of lawful demonstrators and first responders."

"It’s time to rebuild our community and that starts with safety in our streets," Walz said in a statement at the time.

"Thousands of Minnesotans have expressed their grief and frustration in a peaceful manner. But the unlawful and dangerous actions of others, under the cover of darkness, has caused irreversible pain and damage to our community. This behavior has compromised the safety of bystanders, businesses, lawful demonstrators, and first responders. Now, we come together to restore the peace."

The curfew was in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on May 29, 2020, through May 31, 2020.

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