The New Orleans police confirmed Monday that the man who displayed a Palestinian flag with the word “GAZA” during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show will not face charges.
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The banner, which also featured black stripes symbolizing the Sudanese and Palestinian peoples and the word “SUDAN,” was held high by the performer. Dressed down in identical black sweats like the other dancers, the individual stood atop a car, which was central to Lamar’s performance, before jumping off the stage and sprinting across the field. Security personnel tackled the protester shortly after, though attendees had already captured the moment on cell phone footage and spread it across social media. Lamar and guests, SZA and Samuel L. Jackson, didn’t seem to notice the man.
“The individual had hidden the flag, and no one involved with the production was aware of the intent,” the NFL stated Sunday, announcing the person’s lifetime ban from league stadiums and events. Roc Nation, which produced the show, clarified that the flag display was not planned.
Donald Trump attended the game, though it’s unclear if he witnessed the protest. His recent claim that the U.S. government is committed to “buying and owning Gaza” has drawn widespread rejection from Palestinians, intensifying debates over the enclave’s future.
Lamar has not commented publicly on the matter.
