MINNEAPOLIS — Target Center security apologized to a fan sitting courtside at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night after they said they mistakenly asked him to remove a black T-shirt with white block lettering that read, “ICE OUT.”
Tim Phillips, a Minneapolis civil rights and criminal defense attorney, told The Athletic that he wore the shirt in response to the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Twin Cities in recent weeks. On Wednesday, a federal agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during a confrontation in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, about three miles from Target Center.
The Wolves are tenants at Target Center and do not have any authority over arena workers, including security personnel. They also do not set policy for the staff’s interactions with fans.
Phillips said that he was told by security workers that he could not wear the shirt because of a policy prohibiting “Apparel with Explicit Wording and/or Graphics” inside the arena.
“I had offered to put my hoodie back on over it,” Phillips said. “But they said they had to take it. We declined to do that. Then we had a conversation and they realized that was their mistake. They didn’t need to take it since I had offered to remove the shirt.”
The Athletic received a statement from the arena saying that an employee misinterpreted that policy.
“At this evening’s game, a security guard misinterpreted arena policy during an interaction with a guest, resulting in the guest being asked to remove a piece of apparel unnecessarily,” it read. “We have reiterated all policies to our staff and apologize to the guest for any inconvenience caused.”
Phillips said that arena security initially told him that they would have to take the shirt away from him. He offered to remove the shirt, left his seat briefly to do so and returned to watch the game, a 104-103 victory by the Timberwolves, in a gray shirt.
“I was disappointed that they felt that that was a political message,” Phillips said. “I think that people in Minnesota are in agreement that ICE is terrorizing communities. I don’t think that is a political or partisan issue.”
“It’s very heartbreaking to see the impact on both immigrants who need to try to survive, but can’t go to work in some circumstances, or they feel that they can’t even leave their homes, some of whom feel that they can’t leave their homes even when they’re citizens,” he added. “Then, in addition to immigrant communities, there are observers who are simply trying to monitor using their First Amendment rights, and those folks, too, are being terrorized.”
Videos show Good was killed on a residential street after ICE agents approached her and ordered her to get out of her vehicle, which was partly blocking one lane. After an agent tried to open the driver’s side door, another agent stepped in front of the vehicle. An agent shot Good after she attempted to drive away. President Donald Trump and administration officials have said Good used her vehicle as a weapon and that the agent acted in self-defense.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and others have disputed that description and called the shooting reckless.
A day after the shooting, the Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Good before a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“As we all know, our community has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy,” Wolves head coach Chris Finch said before Thursday’s game. “We want to just convey our condolences and heartfelt wishes and prayers and thoughts to the families and loved ones and all of those that are greatly affected by what happened.”
The events of last week have sparked a contentious national conversation on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policy. Protests were held throughout Minneapolis this weekend.
When contacted about the incident, the Timberwolves referred The Athletic to Target Center.
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