During Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime performance, a protester ran onto the field and unfurled a red, black, green and white and Palestinian flag.
In video shot by Deadline, the man is seen jumping off the raised stage where Lamar is performing and scrambling toward the 50-yard line as he unfurls the flag. He holds the banner aloft and runs in a circle, ostensibly to give those watching a view of the flag, which has the word “Gaza” written on one white stripe. After he does his first lap and runs about 10 yards up and down the field, he is tackled by three people.
The moment was not captured on the telecast, as all cameras were trained on Lamar and his intricate, highly-choreographed routine.
WATCH THE MOMENT:
A swarm of suit-jacketed officials quickly got the man to the sideline, as subsequent video, also shot by Deadline, attests.
It’s probably not a coincidence that the on-field protest came with President Donald Trump in attendance. Earlier this week, Trump announced at a White House press conference that the U.S. would “take over” the Gaza Strip and “own it.”
Asked where Gazans should go, whether they should return after it is rebuilt and, if not, who he envisioned living there, Trump replied, “I envision world people living there. The world’s people. I think you’ll make that into an international, unbelievable place. I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable.” He added that Palestinians also would live there, while also suggesting that Jordan and Egypt would take them for resettlement.