Above: Mall of America protest, first person taken by police, Cody Nelson tweet
Black Lives Matter Minnesota raised its voice in multiple locations December 23rd, disrupting shopping, the metro system and the airport to protest the November killing of Jamar Clark, a black man by Minneapolis police. Their demands:
–#ReleaseTheTapes of his killing
-Prosecute the police involved without a grand jury by a special prosecutor
-Federal domestic terrorism charges against white supremacists who shot 5 protestors
-Institute a safety plan to protect our communities from Police violence
-Disinvest from police and reinvest in Black futures
There was litigation by Mall of America, which feared a repeat of last year’s Black Lives Matter protest. While media reports were confused the court did not block a protest at Mall of America, the court only forbid three people from attending the protest. After last year’s protest the mall attempted to hold protest organizers responsible for their financial loses but this failed in court and charges were dropped against 11 organizers. Mall of America has been aggressive in trying to stop protests, spying on protesters and infiltrate protest movements with a fake Facebook page but this seems to have had a reverse impact as protesters continue to target the mall.
Below are tweets describing the day which began at Mall of America, moved on to the metro and then to the airport.
Confused about the @BlackLivesMpls Protest on 12/23 at @mallofamerica? #Justice4Jamar #MOASueMeToo h/t @webster pic.twitter.com/TGj7DTpo4M
— Everywhere Justice (@CamilleEChavez) December 23, 2015
Yet another death, yet another hashtag, yet another unintentionally iconic photo #BlackXmas2 #Justice4Jamar pic.twitter.com/mdQ7WXMF0W
— Adam Khan (@Khanoisseur) December 23, 2015
Security searching bags at MOA entrance. pic.twitter.com/ivhvYdFjZT
— John Reinan (@StribGuy) December 23, 2015
Shops close up, Mall of America braces for protests. Live: https://t.co/K39fy1oMMB pic.twitter.com/vOTPpfc8JI
— MPR News (@MPRnews) December 23, 2015
People beginning to gather, protest scheduled to start at 1:30 #BlackXmas2 #blmatmoa pic.twitter.com/JjPeacO992
— Robb Jeffries (@robbjeffries) December 23, 2015
Big crowd now in the @mallofamerica rotunda. https://t.co/6NohBjTYYo
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) December 23, 2015
Mall of America faced high hurdle in banning #BlackXmas2 protest, legal experts say https://t.co/AZs7O87mee pic.twitter.com/9fqkyQ1IFj
— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 23, 2015
Many Stores closing pic.twitter.com/mPGs0htDYv
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) December 23, 2015
Heavy police presence at #MOA, dogs, helmets, handcuffs, and zip ties #BlackXMas #Justice4Jamar pic.twitter.com/mgKPt25lQJ
— Brandon Long (@BLongStPaul) December 23, 2015
First person I’ve seen be pulled away by security, not sure if he’s being properly “arrested” pic.twitter.com/rT2SPJX6IQ
— Cody Nelson (@codyleenelson) December 23, 2015
Police line advancing on rotunda. https://t.co/mMWW7qkxzw
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) December 23, 2015
Rotunda at #mallofamerica clearing. Police readying to arrest, if necessary. Order to arrest given. pic.twitter.com/Sf9kJsTalX
— Doualy Xaykaothao (@DoualyX) December 23, 2015
— Search4Swag (@search4swag) December 23, 2015
Crowd moving outside #BlackXMas #Justice4Jamar pic.twitter.com/cZmqbF3HrI
— Brandon Long (@BLongStPaul) December 23, 2015
Heading to the light rail https://t.co/3hddgOuN2p #BlackXmas #Justice4Jamar #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/eogG1th9mr
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) December 23, 2015
#BlackLivesMatter #BlackXmas2 pic.twitter.com/Do8AgTJMcO
— North Star Post (@NStarPost) December 23, 2015
No justice, no peace. March moves to light rail #blackxmas #justice4jamar pic.twitter.com/DQhpJ4sPkI
— Green Party of MN (@MnGreens) December 23, 2015
Boarding light rail now at MOA https://t.co/3hddgOuN2p #BlackXmas #Justice4Jamar #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/xAQQ72LAK9
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) December 23, 2015
Police tried to force protesters to stay on train, snatched first off #BlackXmas #Justice4Jamar pic.twitter.com/OYdU632dIj
— Brandon Long (@BLongStPaul) December 23, 2015
#JamarClark #BlackXmas2 demo now inside the Minneapolis airport!! MT @AndreaKiepe Facing the cops #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/3BHFDpJwR3
— agitator in chief (@soit_goes) December 23, 2015
MSP airport is shut down #BlackXmas pic.twitter.com/iKAkjevBxJ
— Black Lives MPLS (@BlackLivesMpls) December 23, 2015
#BlackXmas2 #BlackXmas pic.twitter.com/7RiH6xF8hP
— try me (@punchbuggiez) December 23, 2015
Tear down Babylon, Black people the bomb! #BlackXmas #WeReadyWeComing pic.twitter.com/keb4a30bZb
— Black Lives MPLS (@BlackLivesMpls) December 23, 2015
Protesters face off with police outside airport #BlackXMas #Justice4Jamar pic.twitter.com/JUBhdOZuN5
— Brandon Long (@BLongStPaul) December 23, 2015
Airport security seems unprepared. "Should we block them or let them go?" Heard asking each other pic.twitter.com/gg4ZsFYGJY
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) December 23, 2015
at least two detained inside MSP terminal 2, VIDEO pic.twitter.com/PjFUZwLGff
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) December 23, 2015
At the Fort. #BlackXmas2 #justice4jamar @BlackLivesMpls pic.twitter.com/DvuVuModLm
— A. Z. Jones (@ZakiyaSankofa) December 23, 2015
Crowd cheering and chanting to let more protesters further into the airport #BlackXmas #Justice4Jamar pic.twitter.com/wXHgxXcBRE
— Brandon Long (@BLongStPaul) December 23, 2015
#BlackLivesMatter #JamarClark #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Kh2v3vOl51
— try me (@punchbuggiez) December 23, 2015
We’ve just shut down the mall, the lightrail, AND the airport. Jamar won’t celebrate Christmas this year, so we shut it ALL down. #BlackXmas
— Black Lives MPLS (@BlackLivesMpls) December 23, 2015
There are reports of three arrests today- 1 at mall and 2 at airport Terminal 2. If you are aware of any else, please message us.
— Black Lives MPLS (@BlackLivesMpls) December 23, 2015