One of the most popular marathons in the Midwest is scheduled to take place in less than one week, and members of the Black Lives Matter movement plan to disrupt it, according to CBS News.
The Twin Cities Marathon is set to begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday near U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. Participants will jog along a path that leads to a spot near the Minnesota State Capitol.
The St. Paul chapter of Black Lives Matter has a protest planned for Sunday. Leaders say they will block the finish line to prevent runners from completing their 26.2 mile journey.
In fact, organizer Rashad Turner says protesters will “become the finish line” when they line up just one mile from the actual end of the race.
“Our job as an organization is to keep the pressure on,” said Turner. “Our job is to let the community know that every day we are planning on dismantling white supremacy.”
Twin Cities in Motion is overseeing the event. They released a statement Monday regarding the matter, and said “they are working closely with city officials to ensure the safety of participants, volunteers, and spectators.”
The protests are in response to recent allegations of police brutality in St. Paul. The group held a protest on Sunday during the Vikings’ home opener at TCF Bank Stadium. Activists marched and stood on the Green Line in St. Paul to prevent light rail transit from getting to Minneapolis.
Turner said the goal of Sunday’s protest is to unite runners with the movement.
“My hope is the marathon runners realize they’re not going to be able to finish this race and instead of being angry and complaining, that they join in on the protest and stand in solidarity because justice is all we are asking for,” Turner said. “I would hope people would get tired of the injustices we are facing sooner than they get tired of us protesting.”
