RantCrush Top 5: January 4, 2017

Two acrobatic Dakota Pipeline protesters made waves at the Minnesota Vikings game in Minneapolis on New Year’s Day. The two protesters, dressed in Vikings jerseys, climbed all the way up to the rafters, where they hung a huge banner that said “Divest” and  “#NoDAPL.” The Vikings home stadium is called the U.S. Bank Stadium and U.S. Bank is reportedly a big investor in the pipeline project. Police officers tried to make the climbers–Karl Mayo, 32, and Sen Holiday, 26–come down and the people sitting underneath them were evacuated.

#NoDAPL activists went above and beyond to protest U.S. Bank’s Dakota Access pipeline funding during a game at its Minneapolis stadium. pic.twitter.com/Cb78FvihXS

— Fusion (@Fusion) January 3, 2017

But the protesters stayed for almost the whole game, hanging upside down like Spiderman. The game was never interrupted but many fans who witnessed what was going on posted photos and videos to Twitter. Finally, the pair climbed down and they were arrested. Later, a statement was released to local news stations condemning the construction of the pipeline and urging U.S. Bank to divest. The bank has not yet commented, but the protesters are still being talked about, so it seems like they made their point!

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.