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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mall of America Sues Black Lives Matter Minneapolis -
Unconstitutional suit attempts to coerce activists to tweet, post to Facebook, and text supporters that peaceful gathering is cancelled or face jail time
In an unprecedented attempt at halting a peaceful gathering, the Mall of America has sued 8 activists to compel them to “immediately” post messages on social media and send out a mass text message announcing that the December 23rd event is cancelled.
If the motion is approved by a judge, activists could face jail time for refusing to make social media posts or send texts in accordance with the demands of a private corporation.
**Please tweet #MOASueMeToo and share the #BlackXmas event page to show we won't be intimidated: https://www.facebook.com/events/491627017684431/
The lawsuit, which targets 4 activists and 4 “John Does”, seeks a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief forcing defendants to delete any social media posts encouraging demonstration at the Mall of America on December 23rd. It prohibits defendants from demonstrating or encouraging others to demonstrate at the Mall of America.
On Friday letters were sent by courier to the homes of four alleged leaders, threatening arrests if the event continues on as planned. For the second year in a row, the Mall of America's management has gone to extreme lengths to locate, contact, and intimidate the organizers of this event.
The Mall America continues to seek to bar free speech for the community on its premises despite receiving hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies which it has used to appropriate the traditional public forum in service of its own corporate profit. The Mall of America has now taken the further outrageous and totalitarian step of attempting to control the speech of individuals.
One year ago, 3,000 peaceful community members converged on the Mall of America and were met by police in riot gear who closed down the Mall for several hours. 11 organizers were charged with conspiracy charges and $40,000 in restitution for police overtime and lost profits, but all charges were ultimately dismissed earlier this year after a judge said they didn’t “pass constitutional muster”.
This year’s protest comes weeks after police bulldozed the 18 day occupation of the 4th precinct where community members were demanding justice for Jamar Clark, who was killed by Minneapolis Police after being shot in the head execution style while handcuffed according to witnesses.
Organizers have no plans to halt the demonstration unless authorities release the tapes related to Jamar Clark’s case, prosecute police without a grand jury by special prosecutor, and bring federal terrorism charges against white supremacists who shot five protesters during the occupation.
Nitro Brown
are they protesingt the constant killing of black thugs by other black thugs??See the statistics. Many large US cities are battlegrounds by black gangs killing each other. Nothing the whites did. BUT, keep it up and there will be something coming down the pike and it will not be pretty.
7 yrsReport
Chris Early
Look how Facebook panders to these charlatans, calling BLM an "activist group, that protests against violence." Now link the video where they chase down and beat up the guys outside 4th precinct who refused to take off their masks; or the people shouting death "non-violently"
7 yrsReport
Sean Hiatt
The Constitution deals with our government, not a private enterprise/
7 yrsReport
Michael Osthoff
A mall isa privately owned establishment and if you trespass or loiter you can be arrested. Makes sense that the same would happen with a protest. Do yourselves a favor and keep it in a public place
7 yrsReport
Robert Hay
they say it is free speech what about the people who this group will hinder thier freedom to go and come with no trouble?????u always talk about this sorry bunch of thugs...yes i said thugss they have no jobs but the one to disrupt most of them are paid to be there!!!!but all the shoppers have their lives indangered by these thugs...they are crap if you want to protest go the the courts or better why are you not at congress or the white house...but no you sorry people just want to endanger innocent people who could care less about thugs gettin paid to protest...go home or better back to your areas and riot nad burn your stores like u always do...stupid people
7 yrsReport
Barb Boyer
Black lives matter are bullies that are using people deaths to be tough and to find out they get paid?? If ever I'm delayed because of them I'll start my own darn demonstration against them. People have little kids some like me are physically disabled and can't just be stuck somewhere. But they stop people lives, take away their income they are also making victims out of people. I say mall of America go get the jerks!!!!
7 yrsReport
Terry Smith
You should be banned and kept away. Your gatherings aren't peaceful and seem to be filled with hatred towards law enforcement. When in all actuality you're no different in your hatred than is the Westboro Baptist "Church". Which I deem as a hate group as well. In the same manner they're kept away from funerals, so should you be from interfering and trying to shut down a place of business and its consumers. All you're hurting is your reputation and the local economy and the taxes collected that go back into the community. When the situation arises that a law enforcement officer is in the wrong, then he should be held accountable and judged accordingly. But saying that evoer law enforcement shooting is rascist when blacks are involved is wrong. Each case hase to be studied on an individual basis.
7 yrsReport
Stew Ripley
If the mall and the pussy police can't stop this protest, then my last minute shopping will be done elsewhere. If this protest takes place moa will NEVER get my business again. There are plenty of other places to shop in this city. If Bloomington police can't do their job, Bloomington doesn't deserve my business.
7 yrsReport
Leah Ann
BLM is a joke! They only protest white cops hurting black people (who have or are committing crimes!) not black people killing black people! In Chicago on black Friday they protested on Michigan Ave. They said on TV they wanted to hurt the economy of the people they think are responsible for black criminal getting shot by police. They also said NOTHING about the poor 9 year old black boy being lured into an alley and shot dead by 3 black males! Maybe BLM should spend more time worring about the black people killing black people and working on that instead of blaming white cops doing their jobs! You haven't been slaves for more than 200 years! Get over it already! Move on and get your own community in order!
7 yrsReport
Ryan Laniel
Im sure glad the revolutionaries
7 yrsReport
Katie Heetland
Doing a protest at the mall of america, or on 94 does not help the cause. It passes people off and makes them think you're a bunch of assholes. Just saying. I am with you, black lives do matter, but choose more wisely where you choose to hold protests.
7 yrsReport
Bobbi Bush Rintoul
In 1999, the Minnesota Supreme Court decided the case of State v. Wicklund, in which protesters wanted to demonstrate against fur sales, arguing that the Mall of America is essentially main street. The court decided that the Mall of America is a private entity and has the right to exclude.
Attorney Steven Aggergaard explained that a few states, including California, Massachusetts and Colorado, have decided that shopping malls are essentially Main Street, "and you can't privatize Main Street, at least when you're talking about core political speech." But Minnesota is not one of those states.
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Attorney Steven Aggergaard explained that a few states, including California, Massachusetts and Colorado, have decided that shopping malls are essentially Main Street, "and you can't privatize Main Street, at least when you're talking about core political speech." But Minnesota is not one of those states.
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7 yrsReport
Tonny Toeh
So BLM is trying to go to every white business, restaurant, and shopping venue to make their point.... Maybe you might want to take your rant into the streets where you live. Most blacks are killed by other blacks and in black neighborhods, as facts might unconvincingly still show you! No one should be killed by a cop that way, I support you with that. Yet when blacks constantly feel they need to run away from cops and the law and not face consequences for their crimes, they can't constantly expect positive outcomes to those choices! When I see a lights pulling me over and I know I didn't do anything more than, just maybe speed a little, I pucker up and try to be as nice and pleasant to the officer even if I'm white. I don't "cop an attitude" to the officer. Are blacks more likely to be stopped than whites? Yes. But I've lived near neighborhoods where the police was tough on everyone that didn't fit the bill of driving a late model european car in an expensive neighborhood, me included.
7 yrsReport
Elizabeth Barbie
Everywhere needs to ban impeding of traffic, maintaining a common nuisance and impeding the rights of normal citizens to have peace. Good for MOA👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 The more places that follow suit, the closer we are to ending this disruption in our communities
7 yrsReport
Eric Brooks
Probably because it's phony, Jonathan! Just as phony as Black Lives Matter (BLM) choosing the Mall of America for it's protest! They would do better outside City Hall and not voicing their demands at the mall, private property!
7 yrsReport
Doug Sitler
Black Lives Matter Minneapolis...a
7 yrsReport
Maia Uhrich
The rhetoric in the comments of this post is quite a reality check for me. We have so much further to go toward creating respect, harmony, and equality than I would like to believe. BLM is taking a strong stand to make their voice heard. The only way change happens is if the decision makers take action or there is a critical mass of interest. Inconveniencing
7 yrsReport
Sharon Bramscher
Give it a rest! We all know this is not about some thug getting killed for just cause. It's like going to a parade for these people. Try looking at videos where law officers are murdered during a simple traffic stop, or beaten to death for no reason. BLM should be using their time and money to protest things happening in their own community. Try helping kids by keeping them in school, not getting pregnant before they are old enough to drive, or getting their own kids off drugs. You will never be taken seriously until you begin helping your community first. BLM only says to me that you don't think black lives matter as long as you allow these thugs to label you in negative ways. WAKE UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR YOUR KIDS!
7 yrsReport
Ronnie Seay
good I hope thry sue and stop these Morons BLM. I am not racist but tired of these people blaming bad cops. Go to Chicago,Filly and Baltimore and protest when Black kills a Black several times a day. Better yet tell these thugs to guit breaking the Law and that might stop this shit.
7 yrsReport
Nicolas Diaz
I'm not against protesting for #BlackLivesMatte
7 yrsReport
Brian Verhalen
Protesting is fine, until the demonstration breaks down to any violence or damage. When that happens, everything the protest is about is gone. When BLM is willing to accept the responsibility for what happens under their purview, they can have a protest. Too many people want equality, as long as they do not have to earn it. It is easier to blame others for poor choices and/or lack of ambition.
7 yrsReport
Susan Phillips
I do not understand why Black Lives Matter would want to protest in an indoor space where children are at an amusement park? Don't children matter? I support BLM, but think this is a bad move, trying to hold their event inside Mall of America.
7 yrsReport
Kenny Steve Evers-Landis
You will be trespassing again. You will be told to leave. When you do not do so you will be arrested, you'll be charged and the charges will stand. What I find so bothersome is the lack of understanding that when you repeatedly inconvenience others your message slowly becomes diluted, less important and your cause is lost. I for one care but find this gathering - much like the one at the Fourth Precinct which destabilized in short order - to be on the cusp of - or beyond - irresponsible. There are other outlets than to anger the public whose support you should be seeking.
7 yrsReport
Chuck Turner
Sounds like the mall of america is tired of all this racial hatred that is being incited by BLM. if each time you have a protest and it turns violent and arrests are made, then its time to for TROs to stop the group from assembling in a violent manner, This group has disrupted and many public meetings and have assaulted people who dont agree with them, free speech is a two way street and im glad the court will be ordering them not to have this distrubance.
7 yrsReport
Naomi Reynaldo
There has never been a "peaceful" demonstration from the Black Life Matters thugs... why are they not raising hell over the black men killing their children.. don't those babies lives matter too? Everyone wants to say the cops are bad.. some are i agree but the majority are doing their job of protecting everyone from the thugs who want to deal drugs, steal, rape and murder ppl, why isn't anyone saying anything about all the black on black crime? Black on black crimes are about 50% of all crimes, so why isn't this group doing something about that?
7 yrsReport
Mike Wurzer
It's the busiest day of the year, and those people make their living off that commerce. Nobody at the Mall of America had anything to do with what you're protesting. They're simply trying to provide for their families. Protest the politicians and police somewhere where you don't interfere with the average, innocent persons life. You don't help your cause, or win hearts by bullying or intruding yourselves on the average (once again, innocent) person on one of the busiest shopping days of the year, in perhaps the busiest mall. All you do is piss everyone off, and cause problems. I sincerely hope every single one of you who takes part in shutting down the mall, and ruining those peoples income for that day is arrested, and spends Christmas in jail. You deserve it for ruining THEIR Christmas. #SupportMOA
7 yrsReport
Lisa Marie
Yeah, let's go protest for a man who beat up his girlfriend and tried to get an officer's gun while disturbing all the families and little kids who are Christmas shopping and going to see Santa. While we're at it, let's hurt the economy by making sure our protest gets in the way of all these shoppers on one of the busiest days at the MOA. That'll really get their point across...not.
7 yrsReport
Chuck Walker
If the mall is on private property then they can say who is and is not allowed on the property. End of story. Also, the mall can also deem anyone who is not shopping at the mall a trespasser and have them removed or arrested. They can also classify the protesters as solicitors (admittedly, this would be a stretch) and if they have a no solicitation policy (which most malls do) they can evict them from the property.
7 yrsReport
Brandon Brown
So why are you guys trying to protest at the Mall of America? I haven't researched it thoroughly, but I'm pretty sure it's privately owned (even if the owners are investors). They don't have an obligation to accommodate a protest, since they are not a public place, as far as I'm aware. Don't you think that 3000+ protesters and cops are bad for business? Why don't you get 3000+ protesters gathered outside the police station instead?
7 yrsReport
Andrew Wells
Not government property. Place of public accommodation does not include interfering with business. This would be why the lawsuit. Public sidewalks around the mall wouldn't be included as that IS public versus private property.
Why do you think they can deny access to anyone (AKA trespass warning). It's because it's the mall owners property.
I certainly wouldn't allow demonstrators to hang out on my property, and it doesn't matter their skin color.
We are all brothers/
Why do you think they can deny access to anyone (AKA trespass warning). It's because it's the mall owners property.
I certainly wouldn't allow demonstrators to hang out on my property, and it doesn't matter their skin color.
We are all brothers/
7 yrsReport
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