Bloomington, MN – National calls were made for protests and boycott actions on Black Friday, the largest shopping day of the year, to draw attention to Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza. At the Mall of America in Bloomington, the largest mall in the United States, protesters dropped multiple banners on November 24 in solidarity with Palestine.

At 8 a.m. activists dropped flyers and banners in the rotunda of the Mall of America demanding shoppers boycott apartheid Israel. Banners read, “Don’t fund genocide,” “Boycott Puma, boycott HP,” “Free free Palestine,” “Boycott, divest, sanctions now” and “Boycott apartheid Israel. ” Banners featured the logos for Ahava, Puma, ReMax and Hewlett Packard.

At 11:40 a banner drop at the rotunda was disrupted by Mall of America security, but two other drops went off almost simultaneously in front of the Apple store and at the food court. Both banners were 20 feet long and one read, “Every 10 minutes Israel murders a child in Palestine” and the other said “End aid to Israel”. At 12:50 another 20-foot-long banner was dropped from a parking garage that read, “Don’t support genocide” with the logos for Puma, Starbucks, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Ahava and Hewlett Packard.

All the banners were taken down by Mall of America security and no arrests were made.

#BloomingtonMN #Palestine #MallOfAmerica

“We will not tolerate abuse of children at the hands of MOA security or members of law enforcement. What happened to the child in question was completely unwarranted, unnecessary and traumatic. The security personnel in question must be held accountable for their abuse of a child,” said Nekima Levy-Pounds, President of the Minneapolis NAACP.

“These egregious actions on the part of MOA security must be taken seriously. We must raise the question of whether MOA security is engaging in retaliatory action against Black youths in the aftermath of the recent Black Lives Matter demonstration at MOA. The officers who engaged in abusive behavior of a child must be held accountable,” said Pastor Danny Givens, clergy liaison to Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, and member of Black Clergy United for Change.

The Minneapolis NAACP is calling on MOA management to fire the security officers who were involved in this unwarranted, violent attack on a 14-year-old girl; to issue a public apology to the family of the victim; to conduct racial sensitivity training and de-escalation training to prevent violent encounters as MOA security and Bloomington police interact with MOA visitors, especially children.

#MinneapolisMN #NAACP #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #MallOfAmerica

Bloomington, MN – Just two days before Christmas, Dec. 23, and despite a failed lawsuit that asked courts to force organizers to cancel, Black Lives Matter protesters descended on the Mall of America (MOA) to protest the police murders of Jamar Clark and other African Americans.

Hoping to intimidate protesters, MOA security checked the bags of everyone entering the mall and locked all stores on the east side of the mall. Stores announced they would close “because of the Black Lives Matter protest,” and said shoppers who didn’t leave the store would be locked inside.

Hundreds of police from several metro area departments, wearing riot gear or bullet proof vests and wielding three-foot long batons, set out barricades around the rotunda, which was decorated with 44-foot tall silver Christmas trees. Just as the police put the mall on lockdown, protesters put their fists in the air, and marched silently out of the mall to board trains to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International airport, where both terminals were shut down. Major roads and light rail service were also disrupted.

According to organizers, “We have endured an armed white supremacist terrorist attack where five of us were shot; police violence in the form of mace, batons and less lethal projectiles; over 50 arrests on highway 94 and at the Fourth Precinct; and freezing temperatures to demand justice for Jamar Clark. If it’s not clear yet: we won’t stop until we get it.” They demand release of the tapes of the police killing; prosecution of the police involved; federal domestic terrorism charges against white supremacists who shot five protesters and “disinvesting from police and investing in Black futures.”

The protest comes two days after a grand jury in Texas gave the decision not to indict Sandra Bland’s killers. This is why the Minneapolis demands not just prosecution of the police that killed Jamar Clark, but a special prosecutor, and no grand jury.

This was a coordinated effort nationwide to disrupt airports and public transit. Other actions happened in Washington DC, San Francisco, Chicago and Chattanooga. At the airport, Black Lives Matter Minneapolis said they wanted to bring attention to the “airport’s discriminatory profiling practices against Black people and anyone who is perceived to be Muslim, as part of a larger system that continues to kill and harm Black people without any justice. The continued relentless violence against Black people is appalling and morally repugnant. 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.”

Youth were out in big numbers at this particular protest, including at Terminal 2 (formerly called the Humphrey Terminal), where they led chants.

Arrests were made at both the mall and the airport, including Alex Clark, a cousin of Jamar Clark. “As we were marching out of the mall with everyone else, police came up, called Alex by name, and placed him under arrest, claiming they had a warrant. They refused to say where the warrant was from, or where they were taking him,” said his friend, Jess Sundin, of Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “There’s no way he was pulled from the crowd because of any warrant. Alex was targeted because he’s been leading the fight to win justice for his cousin.”

Alex and most of those arrested were released by Wednesday night, but one protester is being held without charge. According to Betsy Foxman, “David has not been charged with anything but is on a 36-hour probable cause hold. He needs to be charged with something so a bail will be set and he can be released on bail. Please call Hennepin County Jail (612-348-5112, ext 5) and ask that he be charged so that a bail can be set so he can be with his family for Christmas.”

#BloomingtonMN #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica #JamarClark

If the motion is approved by a judge, activists could face jail time for refusing to make social media posts or send texts in accordance with the demands of a private corporation.

The lawsuit, which targets four activists and four “John Does,” seeks a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief forcing defendants to delete any social media posts encouraging demonstration at the Mall of America set for Dec. 23. It prohibits defendants from demonstrating or encouraging others to demonstrate at the Mall of America.

Letters were sent by courier to the homes of four alleged leaders, threatening arrests if the event continues on as planned. For the second year in a row, the Mall of America's management has gone to extreme lengths to locate, contact and intimidate the organizers of this event.

The Mall America continues to seek to bar free speech for the community on its premises despite receiving hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies which it has used to appropriate the traditional public forum in service of its own corporate profit.

One year ago, 3000 peaceful community members converged on the Mall of America and were met by police in riot gear who closed down the Mall for several hours. Eleven organizers were charged with conspiracy charges and $40,000 in restitution for police overtime and lost profits, but all charges were ultimately dismissed earlier this year after a judge said they didn’t “pass constitutional muster.”

This year’s protest comes weeks after police bulldozed the 18-day occupation of the Fourth Precinct police station, where community members were demanding justice for Jamar Clark, who was killed by Minneapolis police after being shot in the head execution style while handcuffed, according to witnesses.

Organizers have no plans to halt the demonstration unless authorities release the tapes related to Jamar

Clark’s case, prosecute police by a special prosecutor (without a grand jury) and bring federal terrorism charges against white supremacists who shot five protesters during the Fourth Precinct occupation.

#MinneapolisMN #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #MN #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica #JamarClark

Minneapolis, MN – Black Lives Matters Minneapolis announced Dec. 17, that a #Justice4Jamar protest will move forward at the Mall of American in Bloomington, unless authorities release the tapes of Clark’s killing, prosecute the police by a special prosecutor without a grand jury, and bring federal terrorism charges against the white supremacists who shot protesters at the Fourth Precinct police station.

Clark was murdered by Minneapolis police. Witnesses state he was handcuffed at the time.

The Mall of America protest will take place on Dec. 23 if the demands of Black Lives Matter Minneapolis are not met.

One year ago, 3000 community members converged on the Mall of America and were met by police in riot gear who closed down the mall for several hours. Eleven organizers were charged with conspiracy charges and $40,000 in restitution for police overtime and lost profits was demanded from them. All the charges were ultimately dismissed after a judge said the charges didn’t “pass constitutional muster.”

“We have endured an armed white supremacist terrorist attack where five of us were shot, police violence, over 50 arrests on highway 94 and at the Fourth Precinct, and freezing temperatures to demand justice for Jamar Clark. If it’s not clear yet: we won’t stop until we get it,” said Miski Noor, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis. “Though they destroyed the community space we created, they can’t destroy our resolve to fight until we get justice for Jamar Clark and liberation for Black people.”

“Jamar's family deserves justice this Christmas, and until they get it, there will be no peace,” said organizer Michael Mcdowell, “Authorities must release the tapes, prosecute the police involved – without a grand jury using a special prosecutor – and institute a safety plan to protect our communities from police violence.”

Also planned in the Twin Cities is a major “Justice for Jamar Clark: March and Unity Rally” that is planned for Dec. 19, noon at the Fourth Precinct police station, to be followed by a march. More information here https://www.facebook.com/events/810204952424164/

#MinneapolisMN #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica #JamarClark

Both Kushner and Nestor argued that the Mall of America asked demonstrators to “disperse” rather than to leave the property all together on the day of the demonstration. The dismissal of charges appears to confirm the validity of this argument challenging the trespass charges.

Attorney, defendant and NAACP Minneapolis President Nekima Levy-Pounds says, “It is unfortunate that the Bloomington city attorney is choosing to continue to pursue charges against alleged organizers of the Mall of America demonstration. This proves what we've said all along: These charges are simply unfounded and are being leveraged as an attempt to intimidate and silence dissent. We will continue to press for the remainder of these trumped-up charges to be dropped until justice is served.”

Levy-Pounds added, “I was initially charged with eight misdemeanor counts and now three of my charges have since been dismissed. Four of my five remaining charges are for ‘aiding and abetting,’ as opposed to substantive offenses. It’s sad to think how much time and money is being wasted by the city of Bloomington ‘to make an example’ out of us; especially in light of the seriousness of police shootings of unarmed black people in this country.”

Defense attorney Bruce Nestor stated, “It is evident that the Mall of America failed to explicitly demand that demonstrators leave the property during the Black Lives Matter demonstration in December. The large monitors simply read, ‘We expect all participants to disperse at this time.’ Under the law, there is a clear distinction between orders to disperse, which means to spread out, versus demanding that someone physically leave the property. Thus, it would have been a gross waste of taxpayer dollars for prosecutors to continue to pursue frivolous trespassing charges in this case.”

“The majority of substantive charges against the alleged organizers have already been dismissed in this case by prosecutors. The remaining charges are mostly aiding and abetting charges, which raises significant questions about the purpose behind these prosecutions,” Nestor continued.

Lena K. Gardner of Black Lives Matter added, “Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson is sending the message that if you are white and you show up on ‘private property’ in Bloomington to protest the killing of a lion, you’re safe, as we saw last week. But if you show up at the Mall of America to protest the killing of unarmed African Americans by police, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and treated like a criminal. This blatant hypocrisy should not be tolerated within our system of justice. Black Lives Matter demonstrators deserve the same respect and deference as others who protest perceived injustices.”

#MinneapolisMN #InJusticeSystem #AfricanAmerican #politicalRepression #Antiracism #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica

Gathering near the mall’s West Entrance, the group raised their voices in song calling for others to join together in the struggle for justice and freedom. Clergy and community members sang the protest song We Ain’t Gonna Stop Till the People Are Free and read the names of those killed or brutalized by police violence, including Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old woman found dead in a Texas jail cell after being arrested for failing to signal a turn. The group, consisting of people who identify as white and of European descent, wore shirts reading “Black Lives Matter” and also held a sign reading “White silence costs lives.”

“We are here because Black people are dying in America for no reason other than the color of their skin,” stated member of First Universalist Church, Denise Konen. Not only do they face the threat of daily danger, but are the first to suffer from an ingrained system of structural racism and inequity. This week, Sandra Bland died in police custody after being pulled over for not using a turn signal. What would have happened had she been white? Minneapolis has the worst racial disparities in the country in every area from housing to education to incarceration to employment to health services. Until white folks take a stand and speak out for justice our brothers and sisters will continue to be murdered by this destructive system of white supremacy. As people of faith, we believe that love can unite us and heal the wound that racism has woven into our institutions. It is this faith that call us to act now and to ask others to join us.”

Last December, the Mall of America was the site of one of the largest rallies of the Black Lives Matter movement, with over 3000 people demanding changes to racially violent policing practices. When asked why demonstrators came to this location today, Reverend Ashley Horan stated, “We are coming back to the Mall of America because we want to make the invisible visible. The MOA continues to directly support the City of Bloomington's persecution of the #MOA36 – a case that is intentionally draining the financial, spiritual and organizational capacity of the Black Lives Matter team.”

Horan continued, “We want to remind the MOA, and the public, that intimidation will not silence us. We will continue to disrupt business as usual until our society, including big business and repressive political systems change, until the charges against the #MOA36 are dropped, and until Black, brown and Native people in our country no longer fear being killed by the police or being locked in a cage. We act to honor the memory of Sandra Bland along with too many others, and we will continue to act until we live in a world where Black lives matter.”

#BloomingtonMN #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica

Minneapolis, MN – Hundreds of members of the Somali community will boycott the Mall of America on July 18, by moving their Eid Celebration. This Eid Celebration comes at the end of the religious holy month of Ramadan for the Muslim community.

The Mall of America has served as a destination for Somali families to celebrate Eid for many years. However, due to the Mall of America pursuing charges against Black Lives Matter demonstrators from a December rally at the Mall, some in the Somali community are set to boycott the Mall and go elsewhere for their Eid celebrations.

“It is critical the Somali community stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the work they are doing for all Black people. The Somali community is not safe from state-sanctioned violence against Black people, such as police brutality, discrimination, or persecution based on faith, and we will work together to create an equitable future for all of us” said Ahmed Hirsi, event manager and community organizer.

The Somali community will host its own festivities outside of the Mall of America grounds. Ahmed Hirsi, along with other organizers in the Somali community, has planned an Eid Celebration to take place at the Brian Coyle Center in South Minneapolis. There will be food, games and childcare provided, and everyone is invited to celebrate with the Somali community on this day regardless of faith or background.

“In the state of Black Minnesota, the Black community routinely experiences the weight of oppression and the effect of discriminatory laws and policies. The only way for us to overcome these barriers is for native-born Blacks and our African-born brothers and sisters to work together and support each other. The Minneapolis NAACP is committed to working collectively with our African communities and providing support where needed,” said Nekima Levy-Pounds, president of the Minneapolis NAACP.

While the Mall of America has stated that they are no longer seeking restitution for lost revenue, overreaching prosecution and restitution for ‘police overtime’ are still being pursued by Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson. Black Lives Matter Minneapolis demands they publicly ask Johnson to drop the charges.

“We have seen anti-Black racism against Somalis by the Mall of America and law enforcement in cases such as Hamza Jeylani and the MOA’s multiple excessive responses to members of the Somali Muslim community on their grounds, so it is imperative we are clear; this is a movement about all Black lives, in all of their manifestations and identities. We are fighting for the freedom and liberation of all of us, and to create that freedom and liberation we know we must fight together, to win together,” said Miski Noor of Black Lives Matter Minneapolis.

#MinneapolisMN #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica #Eid #Ramadan

Minneapolis, MN – According to a letter from their lawyer, the Mall of America (MOA) is no longer pursuing restitution from Black Lives Matter activists for lost revenue after they made the decision to shut down their stores during a Dec. 20, 2014 protest at the Mall of America. This news comes after a massive and sustained public pressure campaign urging the MOA to call on City Attorney Sandra Johnson to drop the charges. The campaign includes a boycott and takeover of the mall’s #ItsMyMall Twitter campaign.

Meanwhile, Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson continues to pursue criminal charges and restitution against alleged organizers of the Black Lives Matter Minneapolis gathering at the Mall of America, seeking tens of thousands of dollars to pay for police overtime.

11 of the defendants pleaded not guilty on the first court date, held March 10. Black Lives Matter Minneapolis called for a boycott of the Mall of America that same day. Amidst the public outcry to drop the charges, media accounts revealed that Mall of America security catfished Minneapolis organizers of Black Lives Matter to glean their data through a fake Facebook account. It was also revealed through a series of emails that Sandra Johnson acted in collusion with Mall of America representatives to coordinate charges being brought against alleged organizers.

In an April 13 letter sent to attorney Jordan Kushner, a member of the Black Lives Matter Minneapolis legal team, representatives of the Mall of America confirmed that MOA will not be seeking restitution against defendants for the Dec. 20 demonstration.

“In response to the massive outpouring of public support for Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, the Mall of America has backed down from its initial positions and stated it will not be seeking restitution. Now, we are waiting for the City of Bloomington to make a similar commitment, and to also drop the charges,” said Bruce Nestor, attorney and member of the Black Lives Matter Minneapolis legal team.

Public support has surged for Black Lives Matter Minneapolis supporters and alleged organizers since Sandra Johnson’s announcement of prosecution.

The next court date for defendants is May 1.

#MinneapolisMN #InJusticeSystem #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica #SandraJohnson

Eleven defendants, accused of organizing a Black Lives Matter demonstration in the Mall of America, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor criminal charges. City Attorney Sandra Johnson is seeking an unprecedented $40,000 in restitution for “police overtime” and “lost revenue.” At a press conference after the March 10 court appearance, a boycott of the Mall of America was announced.

“This is a clear attempt to silence our voices and the voices of many others in this movement demanding that Black people be treated like human beings. My first time in the back of a police car was when I was twelve; not because I was breaking the law or doing something wrong, but because I was being racially profiled. This system is set up to target and profile Black people,” said defendant Michael McDowell after the hearing.

Confidential emails between Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson and MOA representatives were made public yesterday and showed MOA representatives pushing for more serious charges. City Attorney Sandra Johnson offered Mall of America representatives advice on how to coordinate their press strategy with her office so the Mall could continue to put on a “safe and positive face.”

“In the midst of these outrageous charges, let’s not forget about the root issues that led us to this point. In Minnesota, we have some of the worst racial disparities in the country because there are systems of inequity embedded within our state’s policies, institutions and social fabric that do not value Black lives. The focus should not be on the protection of private property and profits; it’s time to prioritize humanity,” said defendant Adja Gildersleve.

City Attorney Sandra Johnson also encouraged MOA officials to continue surveillance of activists through social media, stating in an email, “Please document all the social media and video feeds on social media concerning the event. The groups are very likely to take these sites down when they hear that we intend to prosecute them. That’s likely to air tonight. My office cannot do that – it would require us to be witnesses in our own prosecutions.”

One of the defendants, Mica Grimm, responded, “This political prosecution of alleged organizers is a clear waste of taxpayer dollars and time, especially in light of recently exposed collusion between the Bloomington city attorney and MOA executives. Sandra Johnson has shown that the interests of Bloomington residents are secondary to the interests of the Canadian billionaire owners and management of MOA.”

Black people in Minnesota contribute over $486 million to Minnesota’s economic tax-base and possess a $3.1 billion buying power. Yet, despite significant economic, labor and cultural contributions, Black Minnesotans are consistently on the receiving end of corporate-sponsored and state-sanctioned violence. “For too long in this country Black lives have not mattered, especially not over profit. The 3000 protesters who went to Mall of America on Dec. 20 were there to deliver one message; that contrary to our nation’s history, Black lives do matter,” said defendant Kandace Montgomery.

A pretrial court appearance has been scheduled for May 1st.

#MinneapolisMN #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #PoliticalRepression #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica

Minneapolis – Over 115 researchers, professors and academics have signed a letter as of March 4 urging charges be dropped against protesters who are being prosecuted by Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson for their attendance at Dec. 20 peaceful demonstration at the Mall of America.

This swell of support comes on the heels of a letter from more than 100 faith leaders sent to City Attorney Sandra Johnson two days earlier. The city attorney’s aggressive prosecution of 11 individuals is garnering less than positive attention for both the city of Bloomington and the Mall of America from constituents, faith leaders, community members and now researchers and academics.

This unprecedented and punitive strategy to force peaceful demonstrators to pay for police overtime and lost revenue is also being pursued against black organizers in San Francisco as the BART transit system pursues $70,000 in restitution for lost fares.

Researchers and educators express deep concern over Johnson’s misuse of power: “...we are deeply disappointed in the City of Bloomington's decision to use its considerable power to actually add to the obstacles that are blocking the movement toward a better, more peaceful, and more just society. We urge the City of Bloomington to drop all charges against those who participated in the recent peaceful protest at the Mall of America.”

11 individuals targeted by Sandra Johnson will appear in court on March 10 for their arraignment. Charges range from trespassing to disorderly conduct for their attendance at the demonstration which included nearly 3000 individuals on Dec. 20, 2014 at the Mall of America. The group is expecting hundreds to attend the court date in solidarity with the 11 individuals being charged by the city of Bloomington.

#Minneapolis #MinneapolisMN #AfricanAmerican #politicalRepression #MallOfAmerica #BlackLivesMatter

The letter asks Johnson to redirect public resources to address racial disparities in Bloomington rather than using public dollars to prosecute courageous leaders fighting against racial inequity and requests a meeting with her to open a dialogue on issues of racial disparities in Bloomington specifically.

Eleven individuals targeted by Sandra Johnson will appear in court on March 10 for their arraignment on charges ranging from trespassing to disorderly conduct after their attendance at the peaceful demonstration which included nearly 3000 individuals on Dec. 20, 2014 at the Mall of America.

#BloomingtonMN #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica

Minneapolis, MN – Attorneys with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis obtained a copy of a warrant Feb. 2 from the Bloomington Police Department that grants police permission to seize private information from the Facebook account of well-known community activist Nick Espinosa.

In response, Nick Espinosa issued this statement:

“I’m deeply disturbed to share that Bloomington Police have obtained a warrant to seize private information from my Facebook account as part of the ongoing political persecution and surveillance of alleged Black Lives Matter organizers who supported a peaceful gathering at the Mall of America on Dec. 20.

“The Bloomington Police Department hopes to find evidence of a conspiracy to aid and abet trespassing, among other ridiculous charges. But the only conspiracy we see here is the collusion of public officials and private corporations to abuse the people they were elected to serve.

“This blatant violation of my privacy and civil rights is part of an ill-conceived crusade by the City of Bloomington to intimidate and silence young activists of color at the behest of the largest shopping mall in the U.S., with our own public dollars.

“As was true of the civil rights activists who paved our way, these gross miscarriages of justice will only strengthen our resolve to dismantle the systems of oppression tearing apart our communities and will inspire thousands more to action. We have nothing to lose but our chains.

“End this political witch hunt. Drop the charges now.”

The city of Bloomington filed charges last month against 10 people they accuse of organizing a peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration at the Mall of America in December 2014. City Attorney Sandra Johnson has said she will pursue restitution for “lost revenue” and $33,000 of police overtime to make an example of “ringleaders” to deter future demonstrations.

Defendants were charged with up to eight misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of two years in prison and an $8000 fine.

Espinosa, along with two defendants – Michael McDowell and Mica Grimm – were visited at their homes twice by Bloomington Police in the lead-up to the event and were threatened with arrest if the gathering was not canceled.

Bloomington Police also sent undercover officers to infiltrate a training held in preparation for a peaceful event at the Mall of America to conduct surveillance and identify “leaders.”

#MinneapolisMN #NickEspinosa #Antiracism #PoliticalRepression #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica

Bloomington, MN – Thousands of protesters shut down large sections of the biggest shopping mall in the U.S., the Mall of America (MOA), in the early afternoon of Dec. 20, demanding an end to police brutality. The mall rotunda was filled demonstrators with raised arms, chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot!”

Above the protesters in the rotunda, and alongside a giant artificial silver Christmas tree, a huge electronic billboard warned, “Those who continue to demonstrate will be subject to arrest.” More than 1000 protesters filled the store-lined corridors that radiate out from the mall’s rotunda. Some pressed through lines of mall security, with their hands raised and chanting. Many MOA stores closed up and riot-clad police could be seen marching up corridors. The protest continued until late afternoon.

A statement from demonstration organizers, Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, said, “Our basic demands are: an immediate end to the unjust police murders of unarmed Black people, including Black children and teens, and for Minnesota to take measures to eliminate the worst racial disparities in policing in the country.” The statement also called for a number of policy changes including, “adoption of legislation to end racial profiling, including an end to MOA’s illegal racial profiling.”

The protest was joined by many progressive Twin Cites organizations including the Anti-War Committee and the Welfare Rights Committee.

The protest at the Mall of America was one of the many that have taken place in recent months after the uprisings in Ferguson, Missouri in response to the police murder of Mike Brown, and the recent decision of a grand jury to let the New York cop who killed Eric Garner escape justice.

#BloomingtonMinnesota #BloomingtonMN #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #EricGarner #Ferguson #BlackLivesMatter #MallOfAmerica