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Metro Transit readies for Black Lives Matter protest; police supporters rally

The boy and his mother plan to attend the protest.

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Organizers quickly moved to defuse a confrontation between the man carrying the Confederate flag and an elderly man who grew angry at the flag.

As Gale, a substitute teacher who lives in Roseville, marched, she said she was elated to see passersby support the demonstration.

By 12:40 p.m. Sunday, Green Line trains were running again on the normal schedule, Metro Transit said.

At Hamline and University, several motorists honked their horns and raised their fists in support.

The Lexington Avenue station in St. Paul is where the group claims Metro Transit officers used excessive force against a teenager who has autism.

During the incident, Abrams was spotted standing on the rail tracks.

– Metro Transit officials suspended Green Line light-rail service and added buses to ensure fans could make it to the Vikings home opener despite a planned Black Lives Matter protest responding to alleged police brutality in August.

His mother, Maria Caldwell, said his disabilities should have been apparent to the officers.

The encounter turned rough, with officers taking him to the ground, he said.

Marcus Abrams is a 17-year-old whose family say he’s autistic.

Metro Transit said for people plan ahead Sunday morning around 9:30 because the protest may delay travel time on the Green Line.

He said organizers didn’t negotiate with police beforehand about where they’d be allowed to go, and thought officers might take a harder line on letting protesters on the tracks.

Metro Transit spokesman Howie Padilla said the agency accomplished its goals of maintaining safety and continuing service during the protest.

Turner said all the group’s protests aim to disrupt peoples’ everyday activities; he said that is the only way for people to pay attention to police brutality.

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Many of those at the rally told WCCO they think protests like the one being organized by Black Lives Matter are hurtful toward police and their families.

Green Line stops, buses go to transport Vikings fans during Black Lives Matter