MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 23 (UPI) — Civil rights protesters impacted normal life in Minneapolis on Wednesday when a rally moved from the world’s busiest shopping mall, to commuter train stations and finally to the airport — resulting in numerous arrests.
Hundreds of activists turned out at the Mall of America Wednesday afternoon to promote the national “Black Lives Matter” campaign. Wednesday’s demonstration sought to raise awareness of last month’s police shooting of Jamar Clark, a 24-year-old black Minneapolis man.
“We raised the bar. We let the nation and the world know that black lives matter,” Pastor Danny Givens told the Minneapolis Star Tribune Wednesday.
About 80 retail shops in the mall were closed due to what was termed an “emergency situation” and officials ordered a lockdown of the retail center. After about 90 minutes, the lockdown was lifted and the stores reopened.
During the rally inside the mall, the world’s busiest, an announcement was made over the center’s public address system to advise the demonstrators that they would be arrested shortly. All but four subsequently left the mall.
“Mall of America has a longstanding policy banning political demonstrations and protests on our private property. That policy is in place to protect the safety of all Mall of America guests, employees and tenants,” Mall of America said in a statement. “The organizers of today’s protest were well aware of that policy. We respect the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly. However, the courts have affirmed our right as private property owners to prohibit demonstrations on our property.”
At that point, the demonstration moved outside to a light rail station — and, finally, to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
“We accomplished exactly what we came here to accomplish,” resident Michelle Barnes added. “We wanted to shut down the highway, shut down the airport and show solidarity with other Black Lives Matter groups.”
During the rally, advocates chanted, “black lives, they matter here” — echoing sentiments expressed in the nationwide demonstration in recent months.
The protesters disrupted light rail service to multiple stations, the Star Tribune reported.
Motorists on nearby roadways were also affected by the march. The Highway 5 entrance to an airport terminal had to be temporarily closed, officials said.
At least eight people were arrested for trespassing and obstruction and at least one airport terminal was temporarily closed, USA Today reported.
“Black Lives Matter” is a nationwide campaign aimed at drawing attention to violence against blacks.
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