Two Minnesota state lawmakers were shot Saturday at their homes in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, north of Minneapolis, authorities said. State Senator John Hoffman was wounded, and State Representative Melissa Hortman was killed along with her husband. Hoffman’s wife was also wounded. Both represent districts north of Minneapolis. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz considers it a targeted act of “political violence.” “Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint,” he said.

Hortman was the top Democratic leader in the state legislature and former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. She was first elected in 2004. She was a lawyer and had two children. Hoffman, also a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He runs Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm. Previously, he was vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which oversees Minnesota’s largest school district. Hoffman is married and has one daughter.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said authorities are searching for the suspect, who was wearing a law enforcement uniform. The suspect fired at officers who arrived at the home of one of the lawmakers. A manifesto and a list of dozens of targets —including the congresspeople shot this Saturday, other lawmakers, and pro-abortion activists — were found in his vehicle.

“Suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,” Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said. Authorities are working to determine the motive behind the attacks but are still in the early stages of the investigation.

The Brooklyn Park City Council asked residents to stay in their homes within a three-mile radius around a local golf course while the search continues for the suspect, who is considered “armed and dangerous,” according to a post on its Facebook page. “Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement. Do not approach,“ it warned.

Authorities have asked Minnesota residents to avoid the protests against U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for this Saturday under the slogan No Kings, coinciding with the first military parade in Washington since 1991. Their message includes a photograph of flyers bearing that slogan on the seat of a car, apparently the suspect’s vehicle. The organization canceled the protests in Minnesota following the authorities’ recommendation.

The pretext for the parade is the 250th anniversary of the Army, but it coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday. He has been fixated on holding a military parade since his first term and has taken advantage of the timing amid criticism from the Democratic opposition. The parade also comes as Trump has deployed the military to suppress protests in Los Angeles against his immigration policy.

“We are here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota. My good friend, a new colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, were shot and killed just this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination,” Walz said at a news conference. “Our state has lost a great leader, and I have lost a dearest of friends. Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor, and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture, and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable,” he added.

“My prayers also go out to State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, who were shot multiple times. The Hoffmans have come out of surgery and are receiving care, and we are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt,” the governor said.

“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz insisted. “This tragic act here in Minnesota should serve as a reminder to all of us that democracy and the debates in the halls of Congress, in state houses, in school boards, is a way to settle our differences peacefully and move society to a better place,” he added.

Trump, who was the target of two assassination attempts last year, addressed the attacks through Truth, his social media platform. “I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers. Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,” he wrote.

“This morning Minnesota woke up to news of a brutal act of violence targeting public servants. I am heartbroken to learn that our Speaker Melissa Hortman, Sen. John Hoffman and their spouses have been shot. I’ve worked closely with these fine legislators for many years. Archie and I are grateful for the incredible response of law enforcement and hope that everyone will be safe today,” tweeted State Senator Tina Smith.

It will be a weekend of contrasts. This Saturday, a parade will be held in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army, which falls on the same day as President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. At the same time, people across the country are planning various protests against the Republican president and his immigration policy. These demonstrations, under the name “No Kings,” could face repression, as has happened in recent days in California, where the National Guard has been deployed and hundreds of arrests have been made.

On his social media platform Truth, the president said of the Army’s 250th anniversary: “We will celebrate with a spectacular military parade in Washington, D.C., like no other.” He also claimed that it would be bigger and better than any other parade ever seen on American soil. In fact, the U.S. Secret Service has designated it as a “special national security event,” similar to a presidential inauguration, which requires special resources. According to the Army, the cost of the event will be between $25 million and $45 million.

On the other hand, there are at least 2,000 protests planned against the Trump administration’s policies. Saturday has been called “No Kings Day of Defiance,” and its intention — according to the organizers — is to “honor civil liberties for all” and protest against deportations, U.S. actions in Gaza and support for Israel, mass layoffs of federal employees, and cuts to government departments such as USAID.

Here’s what to expect this Saturday:

What time does the military parade start?

The military parade will take place on June 14 and will begin at 6:30 pm local time. The event is just one of several that will happen throughout the day from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm.

Parade schedule

The celebrations will begin with a traditional ceremony in which senior Army leaders lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. An athletic competition will follow, and then a festival will be held at the National Mall from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The day will end with a fireworks display over the Tidal Basin.

The Army has announced that the parade will feature 6,700 soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, rocket launchers, precision-guided missiles, and a flyover of 50 aircraft from different eras. The procession includes Abrams tanks, Bradley and Stryker vehicles, Paladin howitzers, helicopters, World War II aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang and C-47, and even a Sherman tank. Marching bands, horses, mules, and a dog named Doc Holiday will also participate.

What route will the parade take?

The parade will take place on Constitution Avenue in D.C., from 23rd Street to 15th Street, and will end near the White House. Upon arrival, a group of paratroopers with the Army’s Golden Knights will jump over the Ellipse to present the president with a folded flag.

Some 200,000 people are expected to attend the parade and the festival, which will be open to the public.

Protests against Trump

The “No Kings” protests were organized by the 50501 Movement (“50 States, 50 Protests, One Movement”), which consists of people who seek to defend democracy and who are against what they consider to be the authoritarianism of the Trump administration.

According to the movement, more than 2,000 protests will take place across the country, in its territories, and even in other countries. On its official website, there is a map showing all the locations where people will gather to demonstrate, and their mission statement, which reads as follows: “No Kings is a day of national rebellion. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we are taking action to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really looks like.”

They also refer to Flag Day, which is that same Saturday: “The flag does not belong to President Trump. It belongs to us. We are not watching history happen. We are creating it. On June 14, we will be everywhere he is not, to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”

Although the demonstrations are expected to be peaceful, some authorities have threatened those seeking to protest. In Florida, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said, “If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at. Because we will kill you graveyard dead.” For his part, Governor Ron DeSantis addressed those who would not protest and suggested that they could run over protesters if they feared for their safety.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbot has called on the state’s National Guard to be present during the protests. In Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe said he would activate the National Guard, but said they would only be deployed if local authorities needed assistance.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he could deploy National Guard troops to other states beyond California “if necessary.” “Thankfully, in most of those states you have a governor that recognizes the need for (the National Guard), supports it, mobilizes it for himself or herself,” he said. “In California, unfortunately, the governor (Gavin Newsom) wants to play politics with it.” Newsom has sued Trump for deploying the National Guard during the protests that have rocked the city of Los Angeles over the past week and spread to the rest of the country.

Sobran las escenas que describen la escalada de tensión que se viven estos días en California. Este jueves ha dejado una nueva, la breve detención de Alex Padilla, el primer y único senador latino que ha tenido el Estado más poblado del país. El legislador irrumpió una conferencia de prensa de Kristi Noem, la secretaria de Seguridad Nacional de Donald Trump, que está en Los Ángeles para apoyar las operaciones de captura de indocumentados que han desatado seis días de protestas y disturbios en las calles de la gran ciudad.

“Si es así como el Gobierno responde a un senador que quiere hacer una pregunta, solo podemos imaginar lo que están haciendo a campesinos, cocineros u obreros en toda la ciudad”, aseguró Padilla tras el incidente.

El senador ha explicado que estaba dentro del edificio del FBI en Los Ángeles a la espera de que autoridades federales comenzaran una reunión informativa sobre las redadas que han arrestado a más de 300 personas en la zona metropolitana desde la semana pasada. Mientras aguardaba, Padilla se enteró de que unos pisos más abajo estaba a punto de celebrarse una conferencia de prensa de la secretaria Noem, uno de los rostros más visibles de la cruzada antiinmigrante de Washington.

Noem llevaba hablando apenas cinco minutos, durante los que defendió la polémica decisión de la Administración de Trump de desplegar 4.000 guardias nacionales y 700 marines en Los Ángeles. “No nos iremos a ninguna parte. Nos quedaremos aquí hasta liberar a esta ciudad de los socialistas y lidiar con la carga que son el gobernador y la alcaldesa”, había dicho Noem cuando comenzó a escucharse un barullo en la sala.

Empujones de los guardaespaldas

Los camarógrafos desviaron sus objetivos para apuntar a la insólita escena: un grupo de guardaespaldas contenían al corpulento Padilla. Lo sacaron a empujones. “Señor, señor, soy el senador Alex Padilla, tengo una pregunta para la secretaria…”, alcanzó a decir el político demócrata antes de que tres hombres lo retiraran de la habitación. En el pasillo, Padilla fue obligado a hincarse y acostarse bocabajo mientras policías del FBI lo esposaban. La escena fue grabada por uno de los integrantes del equipo de Padilla, quien informó posteriormente que no fue arrestado y que su detención fue breve.

La imagen, capturada en un cuarto lleno de periodistas, se hizo viral rápidamente. “Esto es escandaloso, dictatorial, una vergüenza”, aseguró Gavin Newsom, gobernador de California, convertido en el rostro de la resistencia contra Trump a raíz de la decisión del presidente de militarizar Los Ángeles. La oficina del mandatario ha recordado que en solo cinco meses de la presidencia, el Gobierno ha arrestado a un alcalde, a una jueza y a un líder sindical. “Si un presidente hiciera esto en otro país, tendríamos una palabra para él: dictador”, añadió. Las críticas siguieron como una avalancha.

“Esto es muy desagradable, hiede a totalitarismo y va contra los valores de Estados Unidos, es antidemocrático”, aseguró Chuck Schumer, el líder de los senadores demócratas en el Senado. “Este no es solo un ataque al senador, sino a la libertad de expresión en este país… Estas acciones mandan un mensaje a todos, nadie está a salvo aquí”, escribió en las redes sociales Nancy Pelosi, speaker emérita de la Cámara de Representantes.

Karoline Leavitt, la portavoz de la Casa Blanca, reprendió a Padilla a través de las redes sociales. “Debería estar avergonzado por su conducta infantil”, acusó Leavitt. Esta, apoyándose de un video, acusó al legislador de lanzarse al podio que en ese momento ocupaba Noem junto a otros funcionarios, entre ellos el titular del ICE. Dan Bongino, el subdirector del FBI, dijo que el personal de la fuerza actuó apropiadamente.

El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional afirma que Padilla eligió “un irrespetuoso teatro político” para confrontar a Noem. La cuenta oficial de la secretaría afirmó que el legislador no se identificó. Esto a pesar de que todas las cámaras presentes grabaron el momento en que Padilla dice quién es. El senador informó que pudo entrevistarse por 15 minutos a puerta cerrada con Noem tras la escena que ha provocado la ira entre los demócratas.

Catherine Cortez Masto, la senadora demócrata de Nevada, también latina, pidió la dimisión de Noem. “Este nivel de abuso de poder es vergonzoso e indignante”, afirmó. Lo mismo hizo Ben Ray Luján, senador por Nuevo México: “Esta administración dice ir a por los criminales, pero en realidad están persiguiendo a sus oponentes políticos”.

Los senadores demócratas creen que la escena refuerza el asalto autoritario del trumpismo, y han criticado a los republicanos por mantenerse en silencio.

Padilla, hijo de inmigrantes mexicanos indocumentados, se ha quejado de la opacidad con la que el Gobierno lleva a cabo las redadas migratorias. En los últimos días, los agentes federales han detenido en las calles de Los Ángeles a más de 300 personas. Solo una pequeña fracción de ellas tiene antecedentes penales.

El senador no es el primer legislador demócrata que intenta entrevistarse con los indocumentados que han sido detenidos. Varios congresistas y representantes del distrito del centro de Los Ángeles, han sido grabados intentando entrar a los centros de detención. En todos estos casos, han sido rechazados por las fuerzas de seguridad. “A este Gobierno le exigiremos dar cuentas”, aseguró Padilla después de haber sido esposado por el FBI.