Thread by @LouRaguse

So @GovTimWalz and @MayorFrey will do a press conference together in 3 minutes. You can watch on @kare11. I'll live tweet here as well.

@DannySpewak is there ready to ask questions.

Walz: MN National Guard is deployed. Col. Langer and State Patrol is holding 5th Precinct.

Walz: the situation is incredibly dangerous and fluid.

Walz talking about understanding the rage. But says what's going on right now is not that. Absolute chaos. This is not grieving. This is life threatening. dangerous.

Walz acknowledges neighbors are afraid. He thanks Mayor Frey for coordination today. Says largest civilian deployment in state history. but don't have numbers to make arrests.

This is three times larger deployment than '60s race riots, Walz says. Shots being fired back at officers. Says in any other civilian police operation this deployment would have worked. but it looks like military out there - ring leaders moving from place to place.

They're stopping semis by blocking roads and then raiding them.

Walz is smoothing over stuff with Frey. Thanking him for calling hourly and coordinating. (earlier he criticized lack of coordination.)

Walz: what you see tonight will replicate tomorrow unless we change something.

Walz: Minnesotans deserve a plan. In contact with neighboring states and federal government. Harder tomorrow since it has spread to other cities as well.

Walz says the situation on the ground is "hold what you have."

Now Frey is talking. Walz could not have thanked Mayor Frey any more than he did the last 10 min.

Frey: There is no honor in burning down your city.

Frey: If you care about your community, you've got to put this to an end. You're not getting back at the police officer who tragically killed George Floyd by looting a town. You're not getting back at anybody. If you have a friend or family member out right now, call them home.

Frey says they are doing everything they absolutely can. Putting out as many fires as they can.

DPS Commish John Harrington: We had a clear mission. Maintain order and stop lawless behavior. By 8pm saw was going to have to operate on multiple different fronts of criminal behavior - from St. Paul to freeways to 2k ppl in Lake Street area, thousand downtown

They reassessed and redeployed to be at as many as could be at. but even with numbers didn't have enough personnel. Focused on downtown and 5th precinct

At Nicollet and Lake - made about 50 arrests after dispersing crowd.

Had officers shot at, officers injured, continuing to push crowd east of Hiawatha and move off streets and restore order.

Harrington: requested National Guard substantially increase number of soldiers.

Harrington says they are facing an armed, more dangerous group of not protesters, but rioters. Tomorrow will be one of largest crowds have ever heard.

Maj General Jensen: Increasing strength to 1000. Units that normally would report to training this weekend. They should exceed that number he says, closer to 1700 in Mpls and St. Paul.

Jensen on Pentagon news -- they were not consulted but "a prudent move" if Governor elects to use those resources.

Taking questions now.
Q: Not seeing national guard - not hearing from leaders -- no one knows what's going on. what are we missing?
A: there simply are more of them than us.

Walz adds -- we are out there -- protecting critical resources like the federal reserve and power stations, but didn't have enough numbers -- had to triage and prioritize. It was too broad.

Q: Surprised ppl ignored 8pm curfew
A: Not surprised, deeply disappointed. Thought wouldn't be casual observers. Numbers keep growing here. "Shocking to me that it didn't do anything."

Q: Walk us through timeline. what was plan initially. Was guard redirected?
A: With sheer numbers out there, had to make movements.
Gen Jensen adds: Came a point recommended by officers to leave the area immediately. Reorganized. Never left Minneapolis. Redirected.

Q: Hearing reports criminal element from earlier but also white supremacists?
A: Can't personally confirm but believe yes - as well as cartels.
Walz adds that earlier they "stroll" around which is misleading

Q: Evidence of cartels?
A: Harrington-- have intelligence reports but not necessarily eyewitness reports.

Q: Why take 3.5 hours to attempt to enforce curfew?
A: Walz: Too many people. Not enough law enforcement.

Q: Why weren't numbers there?
A: Harrington: underestimated because they listened to members who said decisions made today (arresting officer?) would lower numbers. Turned out to be wrong.

Q: 3rd precinct abandonment embolden protesters???? (great question)
A: Walz -- I want to make sure in critiquing, my intent is not to critique decision Frey made -- yes i think we cannot have this. I think you have to hold these. important strategic locations.

Walz: and giving them precinct has psychological effect

Q: What's happening between gov and mayor?
A: Walz - nothing going on. there is no gap between there. It is imperative we work together. 15-20 times per day on the phone. No friction there.