FnF News
FNF News | U.S. Politics & Protest Movements
Published: June 16, 2025
By: Khadija Khan
“No Kings” Protester Exposed: Appointed by Democrats, Now Turning on Them?
The political fallout in Minnesota continues to deepen following the arrest of a radical protester connected to the “No Kings” movement, after police uncovered literature in his vehicle linking him to an escalating series of anti-government demonstrations. But what’s grabbing national attention isn’t just the protest — it’s the protester’s background: He was appointed by Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz, and had previously supported prominent progressive causes.
To make matters worse, he was reportedly targeting Democratic Speaker Melissa Hortman, claiming she wasn’t “liberal enough.”
“It’s always the same story,” said State Rep. Walter Hudson (R-St. Michael). “They create monsters, and then pretend they don’t know where the rage is coming from when it turns inward.”
A Progressive Turned Radical?
The man at the center of the controversy — who FNF News is choosing not to name until formal charges are announced — was previously appointed to a state advisory board by Gov. Tim Walz in 2022, and had been celebrated by local Democrats as a voice for “youth inclusion and government reform.”
Public records confirm that he served as a community liaison for a Minneapolis nonprofit, with endorsements from two local Democratic legislators, including Rep. Athena Hollins and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
However, since late 2024, he became increasingly vocal online in support of the “No Kings” movement, a decentralized, anti-establishment protest group that criticizes hierarchical governance — particularly executive authority and legislative majorities.
In recent months, the movement has morphed into a more radical expression of disillusionment, with protests targeting both conservatives and centrist Democrats.
“He thought Speaker Hortman was part of the system — not a reformer,” said one associate who requested anonymity. “He wanted revolution, not negotiations.”
What Is the “No Kings” Movement?
The “No Kings” banner first emerged in late 2023 on Reddit forums and local university campuses, where student groups criticized both political parties for failing to address climate change, housing inequality, and corporate influence in government.
The name is a reference to America’s founding rejection of monarchy, but in recent months, it’s been adopted by groups that oppose centralized power of any kind — even democratically elected leadership.
While peaceful in appearance, some “No Kings” events have featured property damage, storming of legislative buildings, and in one case, the burning of effigies of elected officials.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has not officially designated it a hate group, but security bulletins from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety have warned of “nonaligned violent extremism” growing in left-libertarian circles.
A Vehicle Full of Pamphlets and Political Irony
When the arrested protester’s car was searched last week during a traffic stop in Anoka County, officers found dozens of “No Kings” flyers, tactical maps of the Minnesota Capitol grounds, and handwritten notes criticizing Melissa Hortman by name.
One note read:
“If Hortman votes with the corporations again, we make it known she rules no one.”
Ironically, Speaker Hortman is one of the most progressive legislative leaders in the state, known for backing abortion rights expansions, green energy subsidies, and free school lunch programs. Yet the protester — once a progressive himself — had turned against her, insisting she had “betrayed the movement” by compromising with centrists on a housing bill earlier this year.
“This is what happens when idealism turns to zealotry,” said political analyst Ezra Denton. “Movements that begin with noble goals end up consuming their own.”
Democratic Leadership Responds with Silence
So far, neither Gov. Walz nor Speaker Hortman have commented publicly on the protester’s background or the appointment records. Requests for comment from the governor’s office were not returned.
However, conservative lawmakers are demanding accountability.
“This man didn’t just show up out of nowhere,” Rep. Erik Mortensen (R-Shakopee) wrote on X. “Democrats empowered him, elevated him, and now act surprised that he turned radical. They owe Minnesotans some answers.”
The incident also raises deeper questions about how far-left activism is managed and monitored when it begins inside the house — not outside it.
Blurring the Lines Between Protest and Extremism
With a growing number of protest movements refusing to align with either political party, American politics is entering a dangerous new phase, where ideological “purity tests” can lead even the most progressive politicians to be targeted.
According to a 2025 Cato Institute study, political violence in the U.S. is no longer dominated by one side: 41% of violent incidents recorded in 2024 were attributed to left-wing or anarchist groups, compared to 49% from the far right.
“You can’t just point fingers at the right anymore,” said Dr. Amanda Weber, a terrorism and extremism expert at the University of Chicago. “We’re seeing a breakdown of legitimacy across the board.”
Where This Leaves the Democratic Party
For Democrats like Tim Walz, the embarrassment is twofold: not only did a former appointee go rogue, but he did so in the name of ideological betrayal — claiming the Democratic establishment was no longer radical enough.
“It’s the revolution that eats its parents,” one DFL insider said privately. “And it’s only going to get worse the closer we get to 2026.”
With national attention now turning toward Minnesota’s progressive base and its discontents, questions about vetting, oversight, and ideological extremism on the left are no longer hypothetical.
The “No Kings” crowd is making sure of that.
Sources:
- Minnesota Public Records — Gubernatorial Appointments Archive (2022)
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bulletin on Nonaligned Extremism (April 2025)
- Cato Institute Political Violence Report, 2025
- SPLC Public Statements, January–May 2025
- Interviews with FNF News sources in Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Social media posts from Rep. Erik Mortensen and related protest groups