Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe was arrested Tuesday night while protesting at a Huntington Beach City Council meeting in California.
Kluwe was taken into custody on a charge of disturbing an assembly after he voiced strong opposition to a newly approved public library plaque featuring an acrostic of “MAGA,” the acronym for former President Donald Trump’s“Make America Great Again” slogan.
Chris Kluwe’s heated MAGA protest
During the meeting, Kluwe read from a prepared statement in which he described MAGA as “explicitly a Nazi movement” and accused it of promoting policies that “erase trans people from existence” and encourage “re-segregation and racism.”
He called for “peaceful civil disobedience” and emphasized that “no kings” should rule over democracy.
In a video circulating over social media, Kluwe appears in a lectern while reading his speech, saying “”MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence. MAGA stands for re-segregation 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 on veteran suicide. MAGA stands for cutting funds to education, including for disabled children.
“MAGA is profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy, and, most importantly, MAGA is explicitly a Nazi movement. You may have replaced a swastika with a red hat, but that is what it is.”
After delivering his remarks, Kluwe left the lectern and moved toward the council members’ bench.
Police swiftly intervened, detaining him in handcuffs and carrying him out of the room.
The arrest log from the city confirms his charge of disturbing an assembly.
Kluwe later told the Orange County Register that he spent four hours in custody before his release.
The former NFL player, who spent eight seasons in the league from 2005 to 2012, has long been outspoken on social and political issues, including LGBTQ+ rights and government policies.
His actions and subsequent arrest have reignited debate over political expression and public protest.
Some have defended his right to voice opposition, while others argue that his approach disrupted an official government meeting.
The Huntington Beach City Council has not yet commented on the incident.
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