NBA playoffs: Protester interrupts Timberwolves-Grizzlies by chaining herself to basket
ESPN's audio issues weren't the only disruption for Saturday's NBA playoff game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies.
The game was brought to a halt in the second quarter when a protester chained herself to the basket stanchion in Memphis' FedExForum. Once the protester was noticed, it took more than a minute for security to cut the chain and haul her off the court.
She chained herself to the basket stanchion pic.twitter.com/fAbi6uREdR
— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) April 16, 2022
How the protester managed to sneak what appeared to be a metal chain into the FedExForum is unclear.
Why did a protester chain herself to the basket at Timberwolves-Grizzlies?
According to ESPN's Ros Gold-Onwude, the protester shared a common cause with the other bizarre protest of the week at the Timberwolves' play-in game. In that case, the animal rights protester tried to glue herself to the court by her wrists.
It appears chains were much more effective than glue, as the first protester was escorted out almost immediately. Neither were as effective as the oil protester who managed to zip tie himself by the neck to a goal post at a Premier League match last month.
Both protesters wore T-shirts reading "Glen Taylor Roasts Animals Alive," apparently referring to alleged practices at the outgoing Timberwolves owner's chicken farm as laid out by a statement from the group behind the disruptions.
The group is calling for the sale of the Timberwolves from Taylor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore be expedited with Taylor immediately stepping down from day-to-day team operations and for the billionaire to donate $11.3 million in federal subsidies to public health charities and animal sanctuaries.
