Minneapolis Woman's Unexpected Encounter with Far-Right Figure
A Minneapolis woman found herself in an unexpected situation last Saturday when she helped a bleeding man escape an angry crowd, only to discover he was far-right influencer Jake Lang. Daye Gottsche, who was traveling as a passenger with a friend, said they had no idea who the man was when they initially offered assistance.
The Chaotic Scene Unfolds
The incident occurred at a red light in Minneapolis where Gottsche and her friend noticed a man bleeding profusely while being chased by a large group of people. "So we stopped and all of a sudden this bloody man that I had never seen before just walks up to our car and is like begging us to let him in," Gottsche recalled. "Like he's in need of help."
The women allowed the injured man into their vehicle, but the situation quickly escalated. A large crowd surrounded the car, attempting to pull Lang out while damaging the vehicle's taillight. Gottsche described feeling panicked as people tried to open the rear doors to attack Lang.
The Moment of Realization
As the crowd closed in, Gottsche turned to the man and asked, "What the f--- did you do?" She later explained, "I was in the front seat like, 'Oh, help, like I don't know this man.'"
It was during this tense moment that Gottsche learned the man's identity. Jake Lang had been leading a small anti-Islam, anti-Somali, and pro-ICE demonstration in Minneapolis that drew hundreds of counter-protesters. The opposing group overwhelmed his rally and confronted him physically.
Immediate Rejection
Once Gottsche understood who Lang was, her attitude changed completely. "We made it very clear we do not support the type of man he is," she stated firmly. During their brief ride together, Lang made comments praising former US President Donald Trump, saying Trump saved his life and calling himself "a bad boy."
Gottsche described these remarks as "the cringiest thing I think I've actually ever heard anybody say in my life." After driving just two blocks, the women parked their car and asked Lang to leave. He exited their vehicle and entered another car nearby.
Aftermath and Reflection
Following the incident, Gottsche faced some backlash for initially helping Lang. She created a video to explain her actions, emphasizing that she helped him out of human concern and safety, not political agreement. "Honestly, I've kinda gotten a lot of support overall," she noted about the public response.
Gottsche expressed concern about the broader implications of the violent confrontation. She believes such incidents could be used by the federal government as justification for implementing stricter measures. "Us giving him the kind of attention that he got yesterday and us getting violent and aggressive is not the answer," she argued, "because that's what our federal government wants so that they can put in place the Insurrection Act."
Broader Political Context
The Minneapolis incident occurs amid heightened political tensions in Minnesota. Former President Donald Trump has suggested that invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy the US military remains an option if state leaders fail to control anti-ICE protests. These protests intensified earlier this month after a federal agent shot an unarmed woman in what was described as self-defense.
Gottsche's experience highlights the complex dynamics playing out in American cities where political demonstrations sometimes turn violent. Her actions demonstrate how ordinary citizens can find themselves unexpectedly involved in politically charged situations, forced to make quick decisions that carry significant consequences.
The Minneapolis woman maintains that regardless of political differences, violence should never be the answer. She hopes her story encourages more thoughtful responses to political disagreements, even in heated moments of confrontation.
