Mall of America Urges Demonstators to Take Protest Elsewhere

BLOOMINGTON (AP) - Mall of America officials are urging organizers of a police brutality protest to take their demonstration elsewhere.

The group Black Lives Matter Minneapolis is planning a peaceful gathering of hundreds of people Saturday in the mall's rotunda. It's part of the protests that have taken place across the country following decisions against charging police officers who killed unarmed black men in Missouri and New York.

Organizer Michael McDowell says demonstrators may slow down shoppers, but they won't block them from going into stores.

Mall of America officials have sent letters to McDowell and other organizers to inform them that protests are not allowed on private property. They warn that any violation of mall policies could lead to removal or possible arrests by Bloomington police.