Retired NFL punter Chris Kluwe was arrested after he voiced his concerns about MAGA while at a city council meeting in California on Tuesday.The former Minnesota Vikings player, 43,took to the podium at a Huntington Beach City Council meetingto push back against a proposed plaque for a local library that would bear the acronym “MAGA,” which he called a “Nazi movement.”After saying that residents in the city were in favor of a plaque to celebrate a local library, Kluwe claimed that the “vast, vast majority” were against having the GOP slogan on it.“Unfortunately, it’s clear that this council does not listen, so instead I’m going to take my time to say what MAGA has stood for these past three weeks,” the Orange County resident said.He continued, “MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence. MAGA stands for resegregation and racism. MAGA stands for censorship and book bans. MAGA stands for firing air traffic controllers while planes are crashing. MAGA stands for firing the people overseeing our nuclear arsenal. MAGA stands for firing military veterans and those serving them at the VA, including canceling research of veterans’ suicide.”He added that MAGA is “profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy, and most importantly, MAGA is explicitly a Nazi movement.”Former NFL Punter Chris Kluwe Arrested at City Council Meeting.City of Huntington BeachNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“We may have replaced a swastika with a red hat, but that is what it is," he said, as those in the gallery could be heard cheering.At the conclusion of his remarks Kluwe told the council that he was going to engage in the “time-honored American tradition of peaceful civil disobedience,” and advanced towards those on the dais before a uniformed officer was seen quickly following behind to detain him.Bob Levey/GettyKluwe was cuffed and carried out of the chambers, video from the meeting shows.According toThe Orange County Register, the former NFL player spent four hours in jail before he was released.For Kluwe, speaking out is nothing new. The veteran punter spent seven seasons with the Vikings before he retired at the age of 32 in 2014.In an interview withUSA Todaythat year, Kluwe said he believed his support of same-sex marriage and his criticism of his coaches discouraging his activism would further impact continuing his career in the NFL.
Retired NFL punter Chris Kluwe was arrested after he voiced his concerns about MAGA while at a city council meeting in California on Tuesday.
The former Minnesota Vikings player, 43,took to the podium at a Huntington Beach City Council meetingto push back against a proposed plaque for a local library that would bear the acronym “MAGA,” which he called a “Nazi movement.”
After saying that residents in the city were in favor of a plaque to celebrate a local library, Kluwe claimed that the “vast, vast majority” were against having the GOP slogan on it.
“Unfortunately, it’s clear that this council does not listen, so instead I’m going to take my time to say what MAGA has stood for these past three weeks,” the Orange County resident said.
He continued, “MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence. MAGA stands for resegregation and racism. MAGA stands for censorship and book bans. MAGA stands for firing air traffic controllers while planes are crashing. MAGA stands for firing the people overseeing our nuclear arsenal. MAGA stands for firing military veterans and those serving them at the VA, including canceling research of veterans’ suicide.”
He added that MAGA is “profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy, and most importantly, MAGA is explicitly a Nazi movement.”
Former NFL Punter Chris Kluwe Arrested at City Council Meeting.City of Huntington Beach
City of Huntington Beach
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“We may have replaced a swastika with a red hat, but that is what it is," he said, as those in the gallery could be heard cheering.
At the conclusion of his remarks Kluwe told the council that he was going to engage in the “time-honored American tradition of peaceful civil disobedience,” and advanced towards those on the dais before a uniformed officer was seen quickly following behind to detain him.
Bob Levey/Getty
Kluwe was cuffed and carried out of the chambers, video from the meeting shows.
According toThe Orange County Register, the former NFL player spent four hours in jail before he was released.
For Kluwe, speaking out is nothing new. The veteran punter spent seven seasons with the Vikings before he retired at the age of 32 in 2014.In an interview withUSA Todaythat year, Kluwe said he believed his support of same-sex marriage and his criticism of his coaches discouraging his activism would further impact continuing his career in the NFL.
source: people.com
