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Gravity-defying protesters hang high above Vikings field during game (Video)

Eric Edholm

What was expected to be a meaningless game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings turned out to feature a bizarre and thrilling event. High above the field in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, two men were hanging out in the rafters from a banner protesting a pipeline in North Dakota while the game went on.

Karl Mayo, 32, and Sen Holiday, 26, were decked out in climbing gear and spent a good portion of Sunday during the game suspended from the rafters in what ended up a 38-10 Vikings blowout. There’s no question what was happening up there was more intriguing than the action on it.

One of the men happened to be wearing a purple Vikings Brett Favre No. 4 jersey. The game continued on without being stopped. The man in the Favre gear stopped while danging from the rafters to call a media member to explain their protest.

The two men eventually were apprehended after a long standoff (hangout?) and charged with misdemeanor trespass and burglary charges, police said. It’s not entirely clear what they stole on the burglary charges.

Was this real life? And you thought 2016 was bizarre … Check this out:

Watch as the seats directly below the man were cleared by police. No one in the stands, or either of the protesters, were hurt during the stunt.

And here were the cops going after one of the protesters in some incredible video.

Here is the protester going inverted — Happy New Year, everyone.

Here’s the Flying Favre not waiting for his pending arrest to make a phone call. What a game.

That call was apparently to (among others?) Pioneer Press columnist Brian Murphy, who IDed one of the climbers as 33-year-old Karl Zimmerman from South Minneapolis, although that ended up being an alias, naturally. Murphy said the protester would not reveal how he and his climbing partner sneaked in a massive banner (at least 40 feet long by estimates) and climbing equipment.

Media were sent this message while the man was suspended high above the field, detailing the nature of the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota:

Here’s a better look at the banner’s message, which read “Divest #NoDAPL” with the U.S. Bank logo on it.

Here’s how the climbers/protesters appear to have infiltrated the stadium:

In a wild season for the Vikings, this is just the latest bit of weirdness to happen.

Here is a protestor hanging high above the US Bank Stadium field on Sunday. (@BradBiggs)
Here is a protestor hanging high above the US Bank Stadium field on Sunday. (@BradBiggs)

U.S. Bank did not issue a statement in reference to the protest. Although the protesters wanted to speak with the media, they were not allowed to and were charged. And that, dear readers, is how a strange Vikings season got even weirder in the final game.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!