Black Lives Matter organizer says mall was 'decoy'

MINNEAPOLIS - A Black Lives Matter activist says the Mall of America was used as "a decoy" to start a protest that quickly moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Hoping to draw attention to a Nov. 15 police shooting of a black man, Jamar Clark, in Minneapolis, hundreds of protesters briefly gathered inside the nation's largest shopping mall before abruptly walking out.

Some protesters then went to a nearby light-rail train station to head to the airport, where demonstrators temporarily blocked access to a terminal.

Miski Noor, a protest organizer, says "the mall was a decoy." She said she believes it was effective.

Officials say traffic at the airport was back to normal by Wednesday evening, and that about 80 stores at the mall were closed for about an hour as officers escorted remaining protesters off the property.

Officials say a total of 12 people were arrested during the Black Lives Matter protest that started at the Mall of America but quickly moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Airport spokesman Patrick Hogan says more than 100 protesters gathered inside Terminal 2 and shut down security lines for about 45 minutes, starting around 2:30 p.m. Protesters also blocked roads, causing significant traffic backups.

Hogan said the 45-minute closure of security lines caused delays for some Southwest and Sun Country flights.

Hogan added that more than 100 police officers responded and multiple people were arrested on various charges, including obstructing justice. He said police are out in full force to ensure a smooth Christmas Eve travel day, though said he doesn't anticipate a repeat of Wednesday's events. Of those arrested at the airport, six were cited on trespass charges and released while two were taken into custody on gross misdemeanor charges.

Four people were arrested at the mall protest, which started about an hour earlier, mostly for trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to Bloomington Police Deputy Chief Denis Otterness.

He says about 100 officers from various agencies responded and that no injuries or property damage were reported.

Gov. Mark Dayton says the moving protest that led to disruptions at the Mall of America and Minnesota's main airport has created a "very, very dangerous situation."

Dayton pleaded Wednesday with protesters aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement to stand down from blocking access to roads and terminal entrances at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The governor says he questions the need for this type of demonstration. Dayton says protesters' call for the release of video footage of the Clark altercation has to wait, so it doesn't jeopardize the integrity of the investigation that he says everyone wants.