Chris Kluwe, a former NFL punter, was arrested during a City Council meeting in Huntington Beach, California, where he expressed his desire for other officials to “begin engaging in civil disobedience.” Kluwe opposed a plaque featuring the “MAGA” acronym that is set to be installed outside the city’s library for its 50th anniversary. The plaque will display the words “Magical,” “Alluring,” “Galvanizing,” and “Adventurous,” along with a message about the nation’s progress under the “Make America Great Again” slogan.
During the meeting, Kluwe demonstrated his form of “peaceful civil disobedience” by rushing toward the council members, which led to his arrest for disrupting the assembly. He has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, likening the “Make America Great Again” movement to a “Nazi movement.” In an interview, Kluwe urged other “democratically elected officials” to join him in civil disobedience, stating, “People need to be aware that what’s going on with this administration is leading us down a really dark path.”
Kluwe expressed disappointment in the council members for not listening to the community’s concerns, emphasizing that it is “profoundly un-American” for elected officials to ignore the voices of their constituents. He believes many in the community share this sentiment, feeling that the current actions of the council do not reflect the principles of American democracy.
In response, Gracey Van Der Mark, a city council member and former mayor of Huntington Beach, defended the council’s actions, describing the city as a “beautiful conservative city” and suggesting that Kluwe was merely seeking his “five minutes of fame.
