Black Lives Matter protesters to rally at Mall of America

Hundreds of protesters rallied and marched through Minneapolis Saturday afternoon as they continue to demand justice for Jamar Clark, the man fatally shot by Minneapolis police last month.

– The appointment of a special prosecutor in the case, rather than having a grand jury decide whether the officers involved in the shooting should be charged. Around three-thousand protestors converged on the Mall a year ago and were met by police in riot gear. Group organizers announced the protest event today (Thursday), on their Facebook page, saying it was scheduled for next Wednesday at one p-m.

Black Lives Matter Minneapolis demonstrated at Mall of America last December, despite being threatened with arrest for trespassing on private property.

Twenty-four-year-old Jamar Clark was shot on November 15 during what police called a struggle. State and federal investigations are underway. But demonstrations such as the December 20 protest at the mall also are protected by the First Amendment as long as they remain peaceful and participants leave when police tell them to go. “The mall does this to protect the safety and experience of its guests”.

Clark’s death prompted #Justice4Jamar demonstrations at the Fourth Precinct for more than two weeks, as well as several other public protests. Police say he was interfering with paramedics giving aid to an assault victim.

She added that the mall will pursue all appropriate options to prevent the protest from taking place.

“We just don’t want it to be like, ‘Oh, we marched and now we did our part, ‘” Davis said before the rally.