Spider-Man-Costumed Counterprotester Arrested After August 2026 Minneapolis Rally

On August 22, 2026, conservative activist Edward Jacob Lang, a pardoned participant in the January 6 Capitol attack, organized a “peaceful Freedom of Speech” rally outside Minneapolis City Hall. The event attracted a small group of his supporters and a much larger crowd of counterprotesters. Among the latter was William Nicholas Love, 33, who entered the scene wearing a full Spider-Man costume. Two GoFundMe campaigns—one led by Ash Chudgar and another by Keyssy Ayala Castro Figueroa—raised more than $32,000 and $10,000 respectively to support Love after the incident.

Newsweek

Videos posted online show Love climbing onto the back of a pickup truck linked to Lang and striking the vehicle as the two sides clashed. Police reported that the trucks driven by Lang’s associates entered a sidewalk adjacent to City Hall, prompting an immediate confrontation. Chemical irritants were deployed, and officers were struck by thrown objects while attempting to separate the groups. Love was pulled from the truck, arrested for assault, and later taken to a hospital for a non-life-threatening injury unrelated to the arrest. In total, eleven people were arrested in connection with the unrest; seven of those arrests involved Lang’s supporters, and three officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Newsweek

The Minneapolis Police Department confirmed Love’s identity and stated, “We confirmed who the individual is and that person was arrested for assault, so I don’t know how that’s a hero.” Police also noted that investigators are reviewing video evidence and that additional arrests or charges remain possible.

Newsweek

Ash Chudgar described Love as a “Minneapolis ‘Spiderman’” defending the crowd, while the second campaign highlighted Love’s claim that he jumped onto the moving truck to protect nearby people and is now injured, affecting his health and future. Both campaigns feature the costumed individual’s mugshot and have collectively raised over $42,000.

Newsweek

“We confirmed who the individual is and that person was arrested for assault, so I don't know how that's a hero.” — Minneapolis Police Department

Newsweek