Latest news with #FreeGaza
The Hill
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hill
Super Bowl halftime performer arrested months after protest
The Super Bowl performer detained after waving a flag reading 'Sudan and Free Gaza' during Kendrick Lamar's halftime show was arrested on Thursday. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, a 41-year-old man from New Orleans, surrendered himself to the Louisiana state police on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly, The Associated Press reported. Both charges could lead to 6 months in prison. According to the police, Nantambu 'deviated from his assigned role, retrieved a Sudanese flag bearing the message 'Sudan and Free Gaza,' and disrupted the halftime show by running across the field with a flag.' During the performance, Nantambu stood on a car used as a prop during the show, branded the flag and then ran across the field before being tackled by security. 'In coordination with the National Football League, troopers learned that Nantambu had permission to be on the field during the performance, but did not have permission to demonstrate as he did,' state police told the AP. Following the incident in February, the NFL banned the man for life from all of the league's stadiums. The New Orleans police said he would not face charges, but the state police took up the case. On Feb. 10, Nantambu told NBC that he wanted to 'highlight the human suffering,' in both Sudan and Palestine via the protest. Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Several thousand people have also been killed in Sudan amid a civil war as millions experience extreme hunger. 'I hope God shifts Trump's heart to be empathetic and compassionate to those who are suffering in Palestine and do what is right by the Palestinians,' Nantambu said to NBC in February. Brian McCarthy, the vice president of communication for the NFL, told the AP that the league takes disruptions to games 'very seriously' and that it is 'please this individual will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.' In an unrelated case, Nantambu is cited as a victim in a May 17 shooting involving former NFL player Antonio Brown. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Super Bowl protestor finally charged by cops after waving political message during Kendrick Lamar's halftime show
A Super Bowl halftime show performer has been charged with two misdemeanors, four and a half months after he wreaked havoc in the middle of Kendrick Lamar's performance. The highly-anticipated show at the Superdome in New Orleans - watched by a record 133.5million people - was interrupted midway through by a man waving a flag that included the words 'Sudan' and 'Free Gaza'. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, turned himself in to authorities to face of charges resisting a police officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly, police said. He surrendered in coordination with his attorney and was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Nantambu revealed the flag and ran on the field during rapper Kendrick Lamar 's halftime performance on February 9, and he was detained on the field after his demonstration - but not charged. The NFL said at the time he would be banned for life from league stadiums and events, and he has now finally been charged by police. According to a statement from police, Nantambu had been hired as an extra performer and 'had permission to be on the field during the performance, but did not have permission to demonstrate as he did.' NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy thanked investigators for their work. 'We take any attempt to disrupt any part of an NFL game, including the halftime show, very seriously and are pleased this individual will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' McCarthy said in a statement. Separately, Nantambu also hit the headlines last month when he was named as a victim in a Miami shooting incident involving former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown. In an exclusive interview with in the days that followed, Nantambu claimed Brown instigated the violent incident and shot him in the neck, with the bullet grazing his skin. As seen in court files obtained by Nantambu claimed during a 2022 encounter with Brown in Dubai that the Super Bowl winner stole a valuable pendant he had designed and produced. Nantambu further said Brown lied to police in the United Arab Emirates, accusing him of theft and resulting in Nantambu's brief imprisonment. Brown is now facing an attempted murder charge in the wake of the incident, and an arrest warrant was issued on June 13.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Palestine protesters occupy defence firm's Teesside factory roof
Protesters have occupied the roof of a factory belonging to a company they say provides military equipment to Palestine Action group has claimed responsibility for targeting the Permoid Industries Ltd building, on Horndale Avenue in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in an attack which has seen machinery damaged and parts of the roof ripped off."Free Gaza" has been sprayed in red paint inside the plant and footage shared online by the group shows an improvised blowtorch sending flames into the factory through a hole in the have cordoned off the area around the building and advised the public to stay away. Permoid Industries has been approached for a comment. Palestine Action has accused Permoid Industries of supplying munitions containers to the Israeli armed group initially broke into the factory during the early hours of Saturday morning before returning on Monday morning to occupy the roof.A Durham Police spokesperson said: "A small number of protesters have gained access to the roof."A cordon is in place around the building and officers are continuing to communicate with protesters."Police previously said damage had been caused during the break-in on Saturday but nothing was thought to have be taken. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Moment pro-Palestinian activists break in and smash up UK warehouse of firm supplying military items to Israel
Pro-Palestinian activists have brazenly filmed themselves vandalising the warehouse of a UK firm that supplies military items to Israel. The minute-long footage, which was posted to social media on Saturday morning, shows the group cutting away at the metal security fence of Permoid Industries Ltd, in Newton Aycliffe, Durham. Having gained access, two members of the group, who are all wearing hoodies, gloves and dark clothing, can be seen sprinting across the car park into the warehouse where at least four others are already located. According to a statement posted by the group, the incident occurred 'under cover of darkness' and involved the activists destroying equipment, spraying red paint over the floors and walls and smashing glass windows. One activist with a spray can is then filmed daubing 'Free Gaza ' on the walls, while another walks into another part of the warehouse carrying a fire extinguisher filled with paint. Permoid Industries describes itself as an engineering firm that has supplied the Ministry of Defence for more than 80 years, as well as the automotive sector. Products manufactured by the firm include ammunition containers suitable for belted heavy machine-gun ammunition, and cartridge, mortar, and shell munitions. In a social media post from the group on Saturday, it said that the 'intervention' took place 'ahead of a planned shipment of ammunition boxes from the Durham factory to an Elbit Systems weapons plant in Israel.' Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defence contractor with subsidiary facilities throughout the United Kingdom, is said to supply up to 85 per cent of the Israeli military's drone fleet and land-based military equipment. Palestine Action also released a statement on its website explaining that Permoid has 'shipped more than a thousand munitions containers to the Israeli arms industry, at least 920 of which went to Israel's biggest weapons maker, Elbit Systems, in Ramat Hasharon near Tel Aviv.' A Palestine Action spokesperson warned that the group would continue to 'directly intervene' against any firms that supply Israel with arms. They said: 'It is inexcusable to arm the Israeli military and profit from the escalating Gaza genocide. 'Factories operating on our doorstep who are building the tools needed to destroy Palestine and massacre its people, must know by now that we will directly intervene. 'If Permoid Industries wants to stay in business and avoid the wrath of Palestine Action, it must cease supplying the Israeli weapons industry.' Earlier this week, advocacy group Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it had called on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. CAA said the organisation is 'known for confrontational and criminal tactics, including damage to property, vandalism and the occupation of corporate or public facilities.' It added: 'The group's methods often involve the destruction of property, disruption of business operations, and threats to public safety. 'Palestine Action revels in these activities and writes extensively about them on its website.' The group's activities previously include the 'mock beheading' of a statue of former Israeli Prime Minister Chaim Weizmann at the University of Manchester, in November.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- The Independent
Windows smashed at BBC building and daubed with ‘Free Gaza' graffiti
The BBC's Newcastle headquarters has been sprayed with graffiti saying 'Free Gaza', had its windows smashed and glass doors damaged. Northumbria Police has appealed for information following the attack on the building in the early hours of Tuesday. The BBC's Look North lunchtime programme said people used hammers to smash their way into the reception area before they fled when a security guard spotted them. A post shared on social media showed graffiti on the building which said: 'Liars' and 'Free Gaza' in red paint. The force said: 'Shortly before 2.50am today, we received a report of criminal damage at a premises on Barrack Road in Newcastle. 'It was reported that red paint had been sprayed on the outside of the building earlier that morning, and damage had been caused to the front entrance doors. 'Enquiries into the report are ongoing, and anyone with information should send us a direct message on social media, or by using live chat and report forms on our website.' BBC North East and Cumbria accurately and impartially, and will continue to do so. 'We are working closely with the police who are investigating.' A clean-up operation had wiped off the graffiti by Tuesday lunchtime and workmen had made repairs to the smashed doors and windows, sweeping up glass and boarding up the damage. The BBC building, nicknamed the Pink Palace, is the home of its Look North (North East and Cumbria) TV news output and BBC Radio Newcastle.
