A performer at the Super Bowl was taken into custody on Thursday after displaying a flag that said “Sudan and Free Gaza” during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show.
Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, a 41-year-old from New Orleans, turned himself in to Louisiana State Police, facing charges of resisting arrest and disturbing the peace through legal disruptions. These charges carry the potential for up to six months in prison, according to reports.
Authorities indicated that Nantumbu “deviated from his assigned role” by running onto the field with the flag, which interrupted the halftime performance.
While the performance was underway, he stood on a car that was part of the show, waving the flag and running across the field before being apprehended by security personnel.
The state police noted that though Nantumbu had received permission to join the performance, he did not have the right to protest as he did.
After this incident, the NFL issued a lifetime ban on Nantumbu from all its stadiums. Although local police in New Orleans decided not to press charges, state police did proceed with legal action.
In an interview on February 10, Nantumbu shared his aim of highlighting the “human suffering” in both Sudan and Palestine.
Recent statistics reveal that nearly 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the onset of the Israeli-Hamas conflict in 2023, as reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health. The ongoing Civil War in Sudan has also led to thousands of deaths and extreme hunger for many.
“I hope God will touch Trump’s heart regarding the suffering of Palestinians and prompt him to act,” Nantumbu expressed in his NBC interview.
Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s vice president of communications, commented that the incident had significantly disrupted the game and stated that Nantumbu would face legal consequences to the fullest extent.
Interestingly, Nantumbu was previously reported as a victim in a shooting involving former NFL player Antonio Brown on May 17.
