Black Lives Matter St. Paul Planning Protest At Red Bull Crashed Ice
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The St. Paul chapter of Black Lives Matter is planning a demonstration during Red Bull Crashed Ice later in February.
"Red Bull Crashed Ice" will take place Feb. 26 and 27 between the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Xcel Energy Center. The winter event usually brings more than 100,000 people to downtown St. Paul. It also brings in millions of dollars to the local economy every year. This will be the fifth year the Crashed Ice season finale will be in St. Paul.
On Saturday, the last day of the event, Black Lives Matter St. Paul said they will protest.
The group said it's planning a non-violent shut down beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral.
According to the Facebook page for Black Lives Matter St. Paul, they want St. Paul Police to fire Sergeant Jeffrey Rothecker and they want him criminally prosecuted.
Rothecker is on paid administrative leave after suggesting online that drivers run over demonstrators during a march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Rothecker later said he's sorry.
Black Lives Matter also wants a re-investigation of every case in which Rothecker's investigations contributed to a conviction.
The group also has harsh words for Minnesota's Governor.
On their Facbook page they wrote, "Governor Dayton, you are a white supremacist. You have no problem calling us domestic terrorists and saying we are inappropriate, but have yet to open your big mouth against a fellow white supremacist who was inappropriate and has admitted to criminal offenses."
Last summer, Black Lives Matter St. Paul demonstrated outside the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Last fall, they protested at the Twin Cities Marathon.
Both events were peaceful demonstrations.
