Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe was arrested in Huntington Beach, California, for disrupting a City Council meeting. He opposed a plaque celebrating the library’s anniversary that included a message referencing “MAGA,” the slogan associated with former President Trump. Kluwe criticized the Council for ignoring public concerns and labeled “MAGA” as a Nazi movement. Although the plaque was approved unanimously, Kluwe emphasized the importance of civil disobedience in standing against perceived injustices. Known for his activism during his NFL career, particularly for gay marriage, Kluwe has maintained his outspoken stance on social issues post-retirement.
During his time as an N.F.L. punter for the Minnesota Vikings, Chris Kluwe gained a reputation for his outspoken nature, a habit he has maintained even after retirement.
On Tuesday night, Mr. Kluwe was taken into custody in Huntington Beach, Calif., and faced charges for disrupting a City Council gathering.
He protested against proposals for a plaque to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Huntington Beach Central Library, which featured terms like “Magical,” “Alluring,” “Galvanizing,” and “Adventurous,” whose initials spell “MAGA,” the slogan of President Trump that stands for “Make America Great Again.”
The draft plaque also included a direct reference: “Through hope and change our nation has built back better to the golden era of Making America Great Again!” — echoing the “hope and change” and “build back better” slogans popularized by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Having lived in Huntington Beach for 15 years, Mr. Kluwe was among several residents who spoke at the public meeting. “While everyone is supportive of a plaque for the library, the overwhelming majority oppose including a MAGA acrostic,” he remarked from the lectern. “Unfortunately, this council seems uninterested in listening.”
He stated, “MAGA is explicitly a Nazi movement,” prompting applause from the audience. “You’ve simply replaced a swastika with a red hat, but it conveys the same ideology.”
Asserting his intention to engage in “the time-honored American tradition of peaceful civil disobedience,” he moved toward the front where council members were seated, leading police officers to intervene and detain him. A councilman then called for a five-minute recess, and the cameras briefly shifted away.
On Thursday, Mr. Kluwe declined an interview request. The City Council did not respond right away to a request for remarks.
According to Mr. Kluwe, he did not resist the arrest and spent four hours in police custody before being released.
The Huntington Beach Police Department recorded the incident as “disturbance, etc. at assembly, etc.”
Later in the meeting, the plaque was approved unanimously.
“I didn’t expect to change the council’s mind, as I believe those minds are already set,” Mr. Kluwe explained to The Orange County Register. “This was done to demonstrate that this issue is significant enough to warrant arresting oneself. It’s crucial to rise up and challenge authority in ways that others can follow.”
Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark, a former mayor of Huntington Beach, remarked to The Pilot, “He sought his five minutes of fame, and he certainly got it.”
She continued: “Huntington Beach has historically been conservative, and attempts to alter that are being reverted. If I wanted to reside in a liberal city, I would have stayed in Los Angeles.”
Mr. Kluwe was recognized for his outspoken personality during his playing career from 2005 to 2012, especially for his strong advocacy of gay marriage, which was not universally legalized in the U.S. at that time.
He opted for U.C.L.A. over Harvard, where he double majored in political science and history. Additionally, he was known for his engagement in music, performing with a rock band, and being an active gamer throughout his N.F.L. career. He authored a science fiction novel, “Otaku,” set within the gaming sphere.
Mr. Kluwe has stated that during his time with the Vikings, coaches discouraged him from voicing his opinions, and he believes he was released in 2012 due to his activism rather than for performance reasons, although the team has contested that assertion.