Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe was arrested Tuesday at a city council meeting in Huntington Beach, California, for protesting a plaque on display at the public library through “peaceful civil disobedience.”
Kluwe, 43, and other residents were on hand to protest a plaque at the library they viewed as a “propaganda statement” because of its references to the Make America Great Again movement.
In a video from the meeting, the eight-year Vikings veteran (2005-12) told the seven-member city council — all Republicans — what MAGA stood for to him before he stepped toward the government body, leading to his arrest.
“Unfortunately it’s clear that this council doesn’t listen, so instead I’m gonna take my time to say what MAGA has stood for these past three weeks,” Kluwe said. “MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence. MAGA stands for resegregation and racism. MAGA stands for censorship and book bans.”
On the plaque, the words “Magical,” “Alluring,” “Galvanizing,” and “Adventurous” are next to each other to spell out MAGA, and below it, appeared to be a direct reference to the political movement popularized by President Donald Trump.
“Through hope and change our nation has built back better to the golden era of Making America Great Again!” the wording reads, according to the Orange County Register.
Kluwe, an outspoken activist on LGBTQ+ issues and marriage equality, eventually called MAGA “explicitly a Nazi movement” before informing the council that he would then perform an act of civil disobedience.
He then took a step toward the council members and was quickly stopped by Huntington Beach police.
Kluwe was arrested and carried out of the chambers by several uniformed law enforcement officers.
The Philadelphia native was cited and released after he spent four hours in custody on Tuesday.
Kluwe’s outspoken nature on social issues is believed to have led to a rift between Kluwe and the Vikings coaching staff.
He told the OC Register that what he did was not really directed toward the council, but more about the general public.
“This was done not with the intention of changing the council’s mind, because I don’t think those minds can be changed,” Kluwe said. “It was done so that people who are watching and people who will watch understand that this is important enough to get arrested for. That it’s important to stand up and speak truth to power and to do so in a way that other people can emulate.”
