St. Cloud Mayor Calls for Unity After Graduation Brawl

(KNSI) — A saddened St. Cloud Mayor Jake Anderson is speaking out after what should have been a celebration turned into chaos Saturday afternoon at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

While Tech High School’s graduation was wrapping up, fists were flying in the back of the ceremony as a group of people began fighting.

Video footage captures the disturbing scene showing adults punching and pulling hair while graduates, who should have been enjoying their milestone moment, shake their heads in disgust and walk out.

“Completely unacceptable,” Mayor Jake Anderson said during a KNSI interview this week. “Especially when it’s parents fighting or adults fighting that aren’t even students. The fact that this is somehow being normalized is also completely inappropriate.”

For Anderson, the incident reflects growing tensions in St. Cloud between longtime residents and the city’s expanding immigrant population. “Usually first and second generation immigrants have found it difficult. Assimilation means adapting to how things are done in your new country. But we also have to be welcoming. That’s a two way street.”

The mayor believes healing requires a direct, honest conversation between different groups in the community.

“We need to sit down with folks who may not be the same as you, don’t believe the same things as you, but give yourself a chance to learn about them,” Anderson said. “That’s how we start improving this situation. We all need to do better, and we all need to be willing.”

Police are still investigating what triggered the brawl, but have identified several people from the video. Charges may be filed.

Anyone with additional video or information should contact St. Cloud police.

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