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Former NFL star Chris Kluwe fired after arrest over anti-MAGA rant at council meeting

Chris Kluwe, ex-Minnesota Vikings punter, loses his coaching job after a fiery anti-MAGA speech at a Huntington Beach council meeting.

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, left, entertains kickers Ryan...
Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe (8)Jim Mone)AP Photo

Former NFL star Chris Kluwe has been terminated from his position as a high-school football coach at Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, following a dramatic arrest earlier this month.

The incident took place during a council meeting where Kluwe delivered an explosive anti-MAGA rant, which led to his removal from the meeting by police officers. The arrest occurred after Kluwe made controversial remarks comparing ers of former President Donald Trump to Nazis, sparking a strong reaction from local authorities.

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Kluwe's arrest and subsequent firing

The 43-year-old Kluwe, known for his outspoken activism since retiring from football in 2013, was dragged out of the meeting for what was described as "civil disobedience" after he confronted council . He had been speaking against a plaque at the city library, which, according to Kluwe, represented the MAGA movement by using words that spelled out the acronym. Following his outburst, he was charged with disrupting an assembly and held for four hours in the Huntington Beach jail before being released.

Kluwe expressed his disappointment after being fired from his coaching position at Edison High, where he had worked since 2019. "I'm bummed that I won't get to work with the kids anymore," he stated. Despite the termination, Kluwe shared that he had received from at least one parent who expressed disapproval of the school's decision.

A strong political stance and call for action

In a statement following the incident, Kluwe reiterated his commitment to activism, explaining that his actions were driven by his belief that the current political climate was leading the country down a dangerous path. "People need to be aware that what's going on with this istration is leading us down a really dark path," he said. Kluwe also called on elected officials to take part in peaceful civil disobedience to protest the status quo.

Although Kluwe's views on the plaque itself were not the issue, he could not accept the use of Trump's MAGA slogan in the public space. His comments about the movement included accusations of racism, censorship, and other forms of social injustice. Despite the controversy surrounding his comments, Kluwe has remained firm in his belief that speaking out is part of what it means to be an American.

As of now, Kluwe is unsure about his future in coaching, though he has made it clear that his activism will continue. "That's what I've always done," he concluded.

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