Several arrestsas protesters block Minneapolis airport
Black Lives Matter rally blocks access to airport terminal.
Protesters blocked access to a terminal and caused traffic delays around Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday after staging a Black Lives Matter rally,
Protesters MINNEAPOLIS— blocked access to a terminal and caused significant holiday traffic delays around Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport onWednesday after staging a Black Lives Matter rally that also briefly shut down part of the nation’s largest mall.
Several people were arrested at the airport, where officials said access to one of two terminals was blocked, causing backups on nearby roads. Two security checkpoints were closed for about 45 minutes, causing some flights to be delayed, airport spokesman Patrick Hogan said.
Protesters took a lightrail train to the airport from the Mall of America, where hundreds of them had launched the rally to draw attention to a recent police shooting of a black man in Minneapolis.
Gov. Mark Dayton said Wednesday afternoon that the moving protest created a “very, very dangerous situation,” and he urged protesters to stop blocking access at the airport.
Dayton questioned the need for the demonstration, noting that federal and state investigations are underway in the death of Jamar Clark, who was fatally shot by Minneapolis police responding to an assault complaint. Dayton said releasing video of officers’ altercation with Clark — a goal of the protesters — could jeopardize the investigations.
About 500 protesters initially gathered at the Mall of America earlyWednesday afternoon, then abruptly walked out while chanting, “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” Some then went to a nearby light-rail train station that allowed quick access to the airport a few miles away.
About 80 stores temporarily closed their gates, kiosks were covered and even Santa left his sleigh shortly before protesters gathered at the massive shopping district on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Numerous signs were posted on mall property, saying no protests were allowed — including a long message on a screen in a central rotunda between two Christmas trees.
Four people were arrested for trespassing or disorderly conduct during the mall protest, according to local police.