Social unrest seen in large metropolitan cities is making its way to small-town America.
It was a small clash that wasn’t on the gridiron during Maple River’s homecoming football game on Friday night.
Laura Marie Nusser was holding a Black Lives Matter sign in the bleachers when a man, who reportedly was wearing a Make America Great Again (MAGA) cap, ripped it out of her hands and tossed it to the ground.
“I decided to put my sign out because my kids were told ‘blacks get to the back today’ at homecoming. They happen to be half black and half white,” Nusser says in a social media video.
Nusser has two sons who are members of the Eagles varsity football team.
In the 18-minute video, Nusser is not allowed to return to where she had been sitting as officers question those in the stands to try and determine what happened.
At one point, Nusser is allowed to go back to where she was sitting with an officer and that’s when she points out the person who grabbed her sign.
Nusser says the man, identified as Kip Herrmann, should be arrested for assault because he pushed her and for destruction of property.
An officer tells Nusser they are investigating the incident and says she must leave the grounds. Meanwhile, Herrmann is allowed to stay and continue watching the game.
Herrmann and Nusser did not respond to a request for comment, however, Police Chief Benjamin Honsey does confirm the incident is under investigation.
Honsey says authorities also are looking into an alleged assault that occurred at the homecoming dance Saturday night, but that it is not related to what happened at the game.
According to a press release, Honsey says that Nusser was advised to leave due to her offensive language and escorted by police at the request of Maple River School District administration.
Anyone at the game who witnessed or videotaped the incident is being encouraged to contact police at (507) 524-3091.
Nusser has garnered some supporters and a protest has been planned for Monday, Oct. 4, at 7 a.m. in front of the high school located at 101 Sixth Avenue Northeast.