Why was Chris Kluwe arrested? Former NFL player detained in a protest at Huntington Beach

Chris Kluwe was arrested on February 19, 2025, during a city council meeting in Huntington Beach, California.

The 43-year-old staged a protest against the council's decision to install a public library plaque featuring the acronym "MAGA," which stands for "Make America Great Again," referring to President Donald Trump.

He criticized the MAGA movement, labelling it as "profoundly corrupt" and equating it to a "Nazi movement" during his public comments at the meeting which ultimately led to his arrest. Reportedly, the plaque featured the words "Magical," "Alluring," "Galvanizing" and "Adventurous."

"Through hope and change our nation has built back better to the golden era of Making America Great Again!" the signage read, as indicated by Fox News.

In a viral video from the meeting, the former NFL player told the council what MAGA stood for him. Before reading out his statement he said, “Unfortunately it’s clear that this council doesn’t listen, so instead I’m gonna take my time to say what MAGA has stood for these past three weeks,” as reported by New York Post.

After reading his statement, Kluwe then stepped toward the government body which he called as “an act of civil disobedience” but was eventually arrested by the Huntington Beach police, as reported by the New York Post.

Here is what the eight-year veteran of the Minnesota Vikings (2005-2012) said during the city council protest which led to his arrest.

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What did Chris Kluwe say during his MAGA protest at the city council?

During his protest against the city council’s approval of a public library plaque, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe read a statement which said,

“MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence. MAGA stands for resegregation and racism. MAGA stands for censorship and book bans. MAGA stands for firing air traffic controllers while planes are crashing.”

He further added,

“MAGA stands for firing the people overseeing our nuclear arsenal. MAGA stands for firing military veterans and those serving them at the VA, including canceling research on veteran suicide. MAGA stands for cutting funds to education, including for disabled children.”

He concluded by calling MAGA as “profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy..” and “explicitly a Nazi movement.” He was reportedly dragged out in handcuffs by the police.

According to a report in USA Today, Kluwe told Orange County Register that he spent four hours in the police custody before his release.

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Who is Chris Kluwe?

Christopher James Kluwe is the real name of Chris Kluwe. He was born on December 24, 1981. He is a former American football punter. He went to Los Alamitos High School football and attended the University of California where he played college football.

He gained prominence during his eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL between 2005 and 2012, where he set multiple team records. He has remained an advocate for gay marriages and LGBTQ+ rights since his time on the field.

In 2013, he was reportedly released by the Vikings which he believed was due to his beliefs.

Kluwe wrote in the January issue of Deadspin, according to a report in OutKick.

"This is a story about how actions have consequences, no matter how just or moral you think your cause happens to be, and it's a story about the price people all too often pay for speaking out,"

Post-retirement he transitioned into writing by working as a humor columnist for Deadspin. He has written articles for various publications and is also an author, as indicated in Baltimore Examiner.