Four off-duty Minneapolis Police Department officers were providing security at a WNBA Lynx game when they abruptly left their posts after becoming upset over the players’ pre-game attire. The players were wearing black T-shirts that highlighted the names of two Black men, including Philando Castile, who had been shot and killed by police. Castile was killed during a traffic stop in Minnesota, and the players wore his name to draw attention to the issue.
The shirts also featured a Dallas police badge on the back, honoring five Dallas officers who were killed in the line of duty. Alongside this was the phrase “Black Lives Matter,” reflecting a call for social justice and change. The players explained during a pre-game conference that their intent was to honor those who had lost their lives and to advocate for meaningful change in the face of violence and racial profiling.
One player, Rebekkah Brunson, shared a personal experience of her own with police officers who had drawn their guns, stating, “What is happening today is not new.” She emphasized the importance of taking a stand, saying, “We have decided it is important to us to take a stand and raise our voices. Racial profiling is a problem. Senseless violence is a problem.”
The four officers, however, found the shirts offensive and asked team officials to have the players remove them. When the Lynx team refused, the officers decided to walk off the job. According to the Minneapolis Police Federation, the officers were frustrated by the message they felt the shirts conveyed.
Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the police federation, described the protest as “anti-police” and claimed the players were subscribing to what he called a “false narrative” of police misconduct. He expressed his view that the players were overstepping their role as athletes by engaging in these social issues, stating, “They are professional athletes. Stick with playing ball. People go there to watch the basketball game.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Janee’ Harteau responded to the situation, acknowledging the officers’ frustrations but condemning their decision to abandon their posts. She emphasized that while they were working for the Lynx, their role as uniformed officers required them to uphold the values and expectations of the Minneapolis Police Department. She stated, “Walking off the job and defaulting on their contractual obligation to provide a service to the Lynx does not conform to the expectations held by the public for the uniform these officers wear.”
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges also weighed in on the controversy, criticizing Bob Kroll’s remarks. She posted on Facebook, calling his statements “jackass remarks,” and clarified that Kroll’s comments did not represent her or the management of the city. Hodges stated unequivocally that Kroll “sure as hell doesn’t speak for me about the Lynx or about anything else.”
