Judge bars only protest organizers from mall

Calling it too “broad” and probably a violation of free speech, a Hennepin County judge has denied a request from the Mall of America to force Black Lives Matter to take down social media posts promoting a demonstration on Wednesday, Dec. 23, at the MOA. The mall is technically private property and doesn’t allow demonstrations.

Judge Karen Janish approved the request on Tuesday banning the three organizers from showing up to a protest planned for Wednesday. The organizers’ attorney argued during a Monday hearing that those demands were clearly unconstitutional. The judge did not bar all unidentified Black Lives Matter protesters in advance.

The privately held retail center, one of North America’s largest shopping malls, had asked Janisch to prohibit the group, its alleged leaders and others from protesting and require it to delete social media posts advertising the demonstration. She declined to say if she or her fellow organizers still planned to go to the mall, but she said she expects at least 700 people to show up.

On the 18th of December, the Mall of America sent letters to Black Lives Matter Minnesota organizers requesting they cancel the protest, which is schedule to begin at 1PM. Authorities have refused to release that video at this time citing the ongoing state and federal investigations. The Mall of America and Bloomington police responded by sending in officers in riot gear, shutting down the mall for several hours. The judge said the BLM group was not incorporated and could not be recognized as an entity.

A similar demonstration last December drew hundreds of demonstrators angry over the absence of charges following the police killings of unarmed black men in New York City and Ferguson, Missouri. Dozens of people were arrested.

Last year’s protest was the last Saturday before Christmas and Wednesday’s is set for the last full shopping day before the holiday. Police have said he was shot during a struggle, but some say Clark was handcuffed.

Protest organizers want a special prosecutor to be appointed in Clark’s death rather than have a grand jury decide whether to charge the officers involved in his death.