Former UCLA and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe was arrested at a Huntington Beach City Council meeting after protesting a controversial plaque set to be installed at a public library. Kluwe, a longtime advocate for social justice, took issue with the plaque’s inclusion of the acronym "MAGA," which he equated with far-right extremism.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, Kluwe used his public comment time to denounce the Make America Great Again movement, likening it to Nazi ideology. Following his remarks, he deliberately walked toward the council members, fully aware that he would be arrested for misdemeanor disturbing an assembly.
"This is my first act of willful civil disobedience," Kluwe told City News Service on Wednesday. "I’d like to see our elected Democratic officials take stronger stances, but they’ve been useless."
The former NFL player expressed his frustration with how Democratic leaders have responded to President Donald Trump’s second administration. Kluwe believes more Democrats in Washington should engage in direct action, including getting arrested, to resist the president’s platform.
"I'm never going to ask someone to do something I'm not willing to do myself," Kluwe stated. "That’s one of the things I learned from football—basic leadership. You’ve got to prove you’re willing to do it too."
Kluwe was detained for approximately four hours, citing paperwork as the primary reason for the delay. He noted that the Huntington Beach Police Department handled the situation professionally and courteously.
The controversy stems from the city council’s decision to install a commemorative plaque for the Huntington Beach Library’s 50th anniversary. The plaque includes the phrase "Magical Alluring Galvanizing Adventurous" (MAGA) and a statement referencing past presidential slogans: "Through hope and change, our nation has built back better to the golden age of Making America Great Again."
Critics argue that the language politicizes the library, traditionally seen as a neutral civic institution. Kluwe, a longtime resident of the Seal Beach area, emphasized the library’s importance as a community treasure.
"The Huntington Beach Library is widely regarded as one of the best things about Huntington Beach," Kluwe said. "A library should be neutral ground."
Kluwe also pointed to broader concerns about the MAGA movement, arguing that its ideology aligns with historical authoritarian regimes. He specifically referenced recent federal actions to remove references to transgender individuals from government documents as an example of what he believes is an ongoing attack on marginalized communities.
"MAGA, as it exists today, is a Nazi movement—there’s no other way to look at it," Kluwe asserted. "The White House put out an order saying that trans people don’t exist. You can’t get more Nazi than that."
The city council briefly cleared the room following Kluwe’s arrest and did not address his remarks when they reconvened. Despite the protest, the plaque was approved unanimously. Kluwe is scheduled to appear in court on April 16 to face the misdemeanor charge.
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