Unicorn Riot

11/09/2025

Body Cameras Show How Police Acted During Minneapolis’ Largest Mass Arrest

For the 5th anniversary of Minnesota’s largest mass arrest, Unicorn Riot has published its fourth exclusive law enforcement-related video release from the historic events of Nov. 4, 2020. In a transparency video dump, UR's released the footage of 73 Minneapolis Police (MPD) videos from the arrest of over 646 people the night after the 2020 elections.

Recorded just a few months after police killed George Floyd and then brutally reacted to protests, the videos worn by 45 MPD officers showcase three dozen hours of officer interactions and tactic discussions while illustrating MPD’s antagonistic relationship with the community. Strikingly, more than 24% of the 45 officers have killed community members while on duty, and a large swath of other officers had numerous accounts of egregious actions against the community.

We’re releasing the videos in full for public benefit and research, along with a curated media guide that provides information on each video. Watch a snippet of the body camera videos in our FB posts on Nov. 5 and Nov. 7, 2025.

Officers are recorded being paranoid about the protesters, especially civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, amped up for violence, and sharing tactics for a shootout against the crowd. They’re also recorded joking with each other about eating gummies and mushrooms, talking about finding “the Unicorn Riot guy,” complaining about their jobs, dissing the protesters, chatting about their wives Halloween costumes and griping about being hungry.

Seen in these videos is the collaboration between various agencies in the large operation that closed one of the state’s main interstates for over five hours. More than 646 people were arrested during the family-friendly protest against Donald Trump that occurred a day after the 2020 election. The large crowd of around 1,000 people was surrounded by heavily armed riot police and other enforcement as soon as it got on I-94, despite the protest’s plans to get off at the next exit.

For a detailed look at some of the 73 videos view the media guide and see the story at our website. [CC]

11/07/2025

🚨 UR has released 73 videos captured by 45 Minneapolis Police body-worn cameras from the mass arrest of over 646 people on Nov. 4, 2020. Strikingly, more than 24% of the 45 officers represented in this release have killed community members while on duty. [CC - Full story and video media guide in comments]

11/06/2025

NEW: A Guide to the 646 Video Dump ** November 4 marked the fifth anniversary of Minnesota’s largest mass arrest, during which police corralled and arrested at least 646 people after they protested on the interstate following the 2020 presidential election. This week, Unicorn Riot published its fourth exclusive law enforcement-related video release from the historic events of Nov. 4, 2020. In the spirit of transparency and to make these public records more accessible, UR has released a massive cache of videos captured by 73 Minneapolis Police (MPD) body-worn cameras from the arrest of over 646 people from that event.

Recorded just a few months after police killed George Floyd and then brutally reacted to protests, the videos worn by 45 MPD officers showcase three dozen hours of officer interactions and tactic discussions while illustrating MPD’s antagonistic relationship with the community. Strikingly, more than 24% of the 45 officers represented in this release have killed community members while on duty, and a large swath of other officers have numerous reports of egregious actions against the community.

We’re releasing the videos in full for public benefit and research, along with a curated media guide that provides information on each video. View the media guide here:

This media guide is to provide context to each of the 73 videos worn by 45 Minneapolis Police officers during the largest mass arrest in Minnesota history of more than 646 protesters during a post-election protest against Donald Trump on Nov. 4, 2020.

11/06/2025

NEW: As contention across the country between communities and law enforcement festers, and for the fifth anniversary of Minnesota’s largest mass arrest, Unicorn Riot is publishing its fourth exclusive law enforcement-related video release from the historic events of Nov. 4, 2020. In a transparency video dump, UR is releasing the footage of 73 Minneapolis Police (MPD) videos from the arrest of over 646 people the night after the 2020 elections.

Recorded just a few months after police killed George Floyd and then brutally reacted to protests, the videos worn by 45 MPD officers showcase three dozen hours of officer interactions and tactic discussions while illustrating MPD’s antagonistic relationship with the community. Strikingly, more than 24% of the 45 officers have killed community members while on duty, and a large swath of other officers had numerous accounts of egregious actions against the community.

We’re releasing the videos in full for public benefit and research, along with a curated media guide that provides information on each video. Watch a snippet of the body camera videos, Unicorn Riot’s full live stream from the night along with a litany of related media, embedded in the article.

UR is exclusively releasing 73 Minneapolis Police videos from the largest mass arrest in MN history of at least 646 people in Nov. 2020.

11/06/2025

🚨🚨 NEW: Body Cameras Show How Police Acted During Minneapolis’ Largest Mass Arrest

Unicorn Riot is releasing the footage of 73 Minneapolis Police videos from the arrest of over 646 people the night after the 2020 elections.

View the story, videos, & a curated media guide at our website. 🧵

11/04/2025

Rio de Janeiro Mourns After 121 People Killed in Unprecedented Police Operation ** October 28, 2025, will be remembered as one of the saddest episodes in recent Brazilian history, especially for residents of the state of Rio de Janeiro. At least 121 people were killed in the deadliest police operation in the country’s history. CC for link to full story.

11/03/2025

NEW: October 28, 2025, will be remembered as one of the saddest episodes in recent Brazilian history, especially for residents of the state of Rio de Janeiro. At least 121 people were killed in the deadliest police operation in the country’s history.

October 28, 2025, will be remembered as one of the saddest episodes in recent Brazilian history, especially for residents of the state of Rio de Janeiro. At least 121 people were killed in one of the deadliest police operations in the country's history.

11/02/2025

Though the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces have agreed to integrate into the Syrian military by year's end, serious ongoing disagreements and doubts remain over whether this will actually happen as low level clashes between the two sides continue.

The agreement is part of wider efforts to unify and integrate all of Syria’s disparate rebel groups and the territories.

11/01/2025

Former professor Mahmoud El-Kati recounts his experience of having a four-year-old girl call him the n-word as he was delivering shoes at age 9 in Georgia.

"She had the little girl come off the porch and was coaxing her to say N----- [...] she looked up at me and was saying N-----, N-----, N-----, N-----, N-----, all the way to the end of the sidewalk. That terrified me."

Snippet from: A Glimpse at the Legendary Dr. Mahmoud El-Kati

Full mini-doc coming soon.

10/30/2025

The partial legalization of Ma*****na in South Africa has thus far produced mixed reactions. Despite ongoing issues and disagreements over the question, advocates are hopeful that relatively recent reforms will lead to full legalization.

The unclear nature of South Africa's new ma*****na laws is creating confusion and operational hazards amongst a fast growing grey market.

10/29/2025

Coming this week: A Glimpse at the Legendary Dr. Mahmoud EL-Kati

Since 1963, Dr. Mahmoud El-Kati has blessed Minnesota's Twin Cities with his vast knowledge of Black history and the Black experience in the United States.

Featuring Dr. Josie Johnson and Dr. El-Kati himself, this new Unicorn Riot mini-doc takes a glimpse at the retired college professor,high school teacher, author, activist, columnist, father and deeply revered Black scholarly giant.

10/28/2025

Long before October 7, 2023, Palestinians and their supporters in Germany, especially in Berlin, have faced policies of marginalization and severe repression. An ongoing assault on their constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, and expression has intensified since Oct. 7, suppressing the ability to mourn and speak out against Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza. [In-depth reporting and videos]

Palestinians and their supporters in Germany are facing severe repression as they speak out against Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza.