The "Take a Knee" protesters were at U.S. Bank Stadium again Sunday before the start of the Vikings-Rams game, carrying signs and making impassioned speeches.
The 50 or so people on the stadium plaza drew scant attention from game-goers, although several fans stopped to listen and ask questions. There were no hecklers or rude gestures as at past gameday protests.
The activists have resolved to be there for every Vikings home game.
"We want deep systemic reform," said Drew Rosielle, a neighbor of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in July. "We know that justice for Justine without getting justice for Philando, for Jamar ... for so many others is no sort of justice. We're grateful to be here with all of you demanding that. I'm happy to take a knee today."
Organizer and activist Mel Reeves said, "In a democratic and civilized society, this wouldn't be happening. This wouldn't be a problem. Police wouldn't be allowed to hurt people under questionable circumstances."
To those who criticize highly paid football players for taking a knee during the national anthem, Reeves said, "They weren't always football players. They come out of the same neighborhoods where police are knocking down doors, tearing up people's houses whether they're guilty or not."
Both Reeves and activist John Thompson acknowledged that there are police who put a human face on the uniform. But, Thompson said, until those "nice guys" stand up and speak out about the ones doing harm, "there are no good police."
Protesters knelt at noon, although the national anthem couldn't be heard on the plaza outside the stadium.
It's not about the anthem or the flag or the military, Reeves said. It's about bringing the message to people.
The protests "keep the issue out front and center," he said. "Keep people from burying it. We're not having protests so we can disrupt people's peace. We're out there because we want to draw attention to the problem."
Activist Dann Dobson spoke to the group, too, telling them about an emerging protest against Metro Transit on Super Bowl Sunday. Metro Transit has said all light-rail trains will be reserved solely for Super Bowl ticket holders on Feb. 4 because of security concerns. Non-ticket holders will have to use supplemental buses during that time period. The light-rail Blue line will be effected along its entire route, from the Mall of America to downtown Minneapolis; Green line trains will be effected from Stadium Village to downtown Minneapolis.
Dobson has started a Facebook page called "Let Everyone Ride."
"If we can't ride it, nobody is going to ride it," he said.
Pat Pheifer • 612-673-7252
