Donald Trump found himself rebuffed on multiple fronts at the Super Bowl in New Orleans, as did millionaire Gov. “Janky Jeff” Landry. The message of resistance sounded both inside and outside the Superdome.
Despite heavy rain, more than a hundred protesters took to the streets, rallying first at Armstrong Park and then marching as close to the Dome as possible. This was difficult because police blocked routes to the Dome during the march. But a concentration of repressive forces had already been building in the city.
After the New Year’s Eve terrorist attack and leading up to the Super Bowl (which makes the big tourism bosses a lot of money), the French Quarter has been turned into a military occupation zone. Racist governor Landry flooded the majority-Black city with state police and the National Guard. Checkpoints with armed guards have gone up in parts of the tourism-focused French Quarter.
Even with these hindrances, the crowd defied both Trump and Landry. Coming out at all was a big statement. We can’t give into fear. It’s time to fight.
The people leading the resistance
The march was led by the very people Trump and Landry are cynically targeting, with many of these identities intersecting: queer and trans people; immigrants; women; youth; Black people; working-class people — the people who make up the vast majority.
Some organizers of the action were New Orleans for Community Oversight of the Police, Southeast Dignity Not Detention, New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Queer and Trans Community Action Project (QTCAP).
Chants included “Our bodies, our choice”; “Say it loud, say it clear, Donald Trump’s not welcome here”; “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re fabulous, don’t mess with us”; and many more.
‘Trump and Landry are afraid of us’
A speaker with QTCAP said, “We know Trump and Landry are afraid of us. They’re cowards. When Landry finally agreed to do one debate while running for governor, we showed up outside the TV station in Lafayette and made a lot of noise. As soon as the broadcast was over, he got in his car and his driver sped him out of there!”
This writer was there. It was a bit like how Trump sped out of the Dome last night.
Halftime show becomes a stage for resistance
Inside the Dome, Kendrick Lamar and other performers put on a showcase of Black talent and resistance during the halftime show.
One of the performers heroically unfurled the flags of Palestine and Sudan before being seized and detained by security. The racist NFL bosses declared him banned for life, while the New Orleans Police Department said that they were “working to determine applicable charges” before finally announcing that he would not be charged.
What an admission of malice and abuse of power! They were literally scratching their heads for a pretext. But apparently, displaying the flags of these two countries is not illegal yet.
Community voices speak out
A New Orleans-area Palestinian community member told Struggle – La Lucha:
“I applaud the man’s courage for taking a risk and showing unwavering solidarity for the Palestinian and Sudanese people during one of the country’s biggest events. Protests like these show that Palestine will remain a thorn in the imperial world’s side until it is free.”
Speaking to SLL, NOLA resident and Palestine-solidarity activist Kevin Ericksen said:
“That man’s action was like a shot in the arm. Thank you, thank you, thank you whoever you are!”
A 19-year-old south Louisiana woman summed up the night like this to SLL:
“This didn’t go how Trump planned at all. And I’m assuming that’s why some news stations added cheers over the boos when they showed Trump.”
So, let’s learn from everyone who took a stand during the big game. Wherever Trump goes, let’s make sure he knows he’s not welcome.
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