In a post on the group’s Facebook page, the St. Paul, Minnesota chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement announced that they will stage a protest near the finish line of Sunday’s Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in response to recent police violence in the area against the African American community. 

 

The post, which appeared on the group’s page on September 25th, states, in part, that “the silence of the so-called progressive liberals is what allows the police to continue to treat black people and people with mental health issues as second class citizens. It’s time to raise our voices louder than ever before, please join us Sunday October 4th for #BlackMarathon.” The statement ends with the phrase “justice or else!”

 

The post mentions three recent violent encounters as the primary motivators for the organized protest, including a January 15th incident in St. Paul that resulted in the death of 24-year-old Marcus Golden and most recently, the September 24th death of 30-year-old Phil Quinn. In the case of Golden, a grand jury ruled on May 20th that police were justified in their decision to shoot the victim. 

 

In response to the planned Black Lives Matter protest, city officials have notified race organizers of the disruption, and they are “working closely with city officials to ensure the safety of all participants, volunteers, and spectators,” the statement read. 

 

According to protest organizer Rashad Turner, the group will attempt to block runners from finishing the race with the hopes that “they (runners) join in in the protest and stand in solidarity because justice is all we are asking for,” Turner told CBS Minnesota. Turner also noted that runners should not feel threatened by the group since their protests have always “been non-violent, we’ve been peaceful.”

 

“For anyone who believes that a person’s journey to completing a marathon is more important than our journey to being liberated as a people, you are under the mind control of white supremacy, and it’s time to free yourself,” Turner said on the group’s Facebook. 

 

While the city of St. Paul does not have a specific city ordinance that prevents interference with a race, there is an ordinance for blocking a roadway, which could lead to charges of disorderly conduct, according to criminal defense attorney Joe Tamburino. 

 

However, Tamburino cautions runners who might be tempted to use force to move the protesters that charges could also be brought upon them, depending on the severity of the incident.