On Tuesday, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe was arrested during a city council meeting in Huntington Beach, California. His arrest followed his protest against a new library plaque that features the words “MAGA,” a slogan associated with Donald Trump.
During the meeting, Kluwe spoke out against what he called the dangers of MAGA. He referred to the movement as a “Nazi movement” and explained that it stands for ideas he believes are harmful, including discrimination against trans people, racism, censorship, and cuts to education funding.
As his protest escalated, Kluwe left the podium and approached the city council members, which led to his removal by police. In a video of the incident, he can be heard saying, “You may have replaced a swastika with a red hat, but that is what it is.” After the meeting, Kluwe spent four hours in custody before being released.
Chris Kluwe, now 43, played in the NFL for eight years. He started his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2005 but signed with the Minnesota Vikings shortly after. He spent his entire NFL career with the Vikings before retiring in 2014.
