Arrests made as protest blocks roads to Minneapolis airport

They removed themselves and quickly moved by light rail to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, where they blocked access to one of its two terminals for around two hours, and then to the streets, where they blocked traffic around the airport.

Stores closed their gates, kiosks were covered, and several signs that read that protests were not allowed could be seen across the mall property.

In Minneapolis, there were four arrests for trespassing after demonstrations at the Mall of America.

According to the Star Tribune, organizers from Black Lives Matter Minneapolis had announced they would be protesting at the mall during one of the busiest times of the year, but what they didn’t tell everyone was that wasn’t their main plan.

The Minnesota mall, often described as the biggest shopping center in the USA, had tried but failed to get a court order to bar the protesters – a move activists said only strengthened their resolve to disrupt shopping on one of the biggest days in the year for retailers. It also temporarily closed Terminal 2 checkpoints to “prevent protesters from gaining access to secure area”.

A similar demonstration drew hundreds of protesters to the mall last December and forced some stores to close. “The fact that black people get constantly harassed by police forces at every level, local and federal, in airports, malls, and on the streets of America is no longer acceptable”.

Hogan added that more than 100 police officers responded and multiple people were arrested on various charges, including obstructing justice.

“Getting arrested as protesters is as American as apple pie”, protester Adrian Thompson said. Activists claim he was handcuffed when he was shot, an assertion denied by police officials.

The mall opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday, and the protest is planned for 1:30 p.m.

“Our number one priority is the safety of everybody out at the Mall of America today”, he said Wednesday morning. Protesters are demanding the immediate release of all videos in the case.

The protest happened after a judge issued a restraining order barring three organizers of the protest from taking part in the rally.

In a statement, Black Lives Matter said the demonstration at the airport was to protest Islamophobia and anti-black racism, including discriminatory profiling practices against black people and anyone who is perceived to be Muslim. A judge on Tuesday barred three organizers from attending the demonstration, but said she didn’t have the power to block unidentified protesters from showing up.

Montgomery said the retail mecca was the ideal venue for their demonstration to pressure authorities involved in the investigation of Clark’s death to release video footage.

Bloomington police have not said what security measures the mall may put in place to curtail the protest.