Runners Brace For TC Marathon Protest By Black Lives Matter
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- As Black Lives Matter Minneapolis said repeatedly on Twitter that they are not responsible and have no role in the Sunday's protest of the Twin Cities Marathon, Black Lives Matter St. Paul offered a very different version of what protesters plan to do.
This was organizer Rashad Turner on Saturday: "My hope is the marathon runners realize they are not going to be able to finish this race."
Turner walked that back Tuesday.
"We are not going to physically stop any runners," Turner said. "Runners will have an option to stop in and join the protest, but we have no plans for physically stopping the runners."
Turner insists this is not a reversal, and that the protests will be noticeable.
"It's going to be a disruption, it is not going to be business as usual," he said.
Runners are continuing to react with anger on social media with comments like this: "I, too, worry about being trampled to death in a terrifying panic situation."
Alicia Perkins is a Twin Cities runner who vented her frustration on her popular running blog and on Twitter.
"How dare you say your cause is more important than anyone else's?" Perkins said. "You don't know what people are running for. Some people are running for personal reasons, some people are running for charitable reasons."
She has been training since May for Sunday's marathon and is hoping to get a good enough time to qualify for the Boston Marathon
"I guess it helped release anxiety," Perkins said. "I respect everyone's right to have a voice, but not when it infringes on other people's rights."
She is among the many runners and others saying they are not opposed to the cause, but are opposed to the forum and the proposed disruption of the race.
Perkins and others are also saying they are worried about any interruption, especially at mile 25, when runners will be so exhausted.
Turner says there will be signs and chanting. But St. Paul Police have promised if there is a disruption of the race, protesters will be attested.