Anti-Israel protest at Timberwolves-Haifa game leads to assault allegation [VIDEO]
Categories: Protest News, Timberwolves
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| A pro-Palestinian group isn't happy the Wolves hosted an Israeli opponent. |
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Minutes into the game, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel (or perhaps more accurately, anti-apartheid) protesters made their presence known. A group gathered in lower-level center-court seats and waved signs, while protestors in the cheap seats unfurled banners that hung down from the upper level.
The protesters created quite a scene. Some fans yelled "Go home, Nazis!" and called for their removal, and indeed, arena security and Minneapolis police told them to put down their placards or be removed from the game. Today, a group representing the protesters is alleging that one observer who was monitoring the situation was assaulted while being ejected from the game and has sent along video footage to support the claim.
Here it is:The man shown getting pushed around is local attorney Jordan Kushner, who was characterized by the Star Tribune in 2010 as "the go-to attorney for Twin Cities protest groups taking on the establishment." According to one of Kushner's colleagues, after the camera stopped rolling, he was ejected from the game, issued a citation, and told he'd be receiving a ticket in the mail.
A local group called Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign organized the T-Wolves game protest. On October 12, Break the Bonds, along with 100 organizations from around the world, sent a letter to each T-Wolves player asking them "to boycott the exhibition game against Maccabi-Haifa, the Israeli team that you are scheduled to play next Tuesday."
"Israel is committing grave human rights abuses involving an elaborate system of racial apartheid which discriminates against the native Palestinians in violation of international law," the letter continues. "Israel's abuses have been confirmed by the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice."
Click to page two to read a press release distributed this morning by Minnesota Break the Bonds that discusses the incident.
A call to the Timberwolves seeking comment wasn't returned. We've also reached out to the MPD for their take on the incident, and will let you know what they have to say if and when they get back to us.
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