An animal rights protester Sasha Zemmel stormed the courts at Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies playoff games rocking an NBA referee jersey. According to New York Post, Sasha Zemmel sat in the second row courtside behind Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and forced her way onto the court “as players fought for a rebound with 10:44 left in the third quarter, game footage shows.”
She was quickly tackled by several security guards while players raced for a loose ball until the refs blew the whistle and she was dragged off the court.
The protester was identified as Sasha Zemmel of St. Louis in a statement from the animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere. Zemmel wore a makeshift referee jersey with the number 5.3 displayed on the back “in honor of the 5.3 million chickens killed” after a bird flu outbreak at Rembdrant Enterprises — an egg factory farm owned by Taylor, the organization claimed.
She appeared to be wearing a maroon jacket over the gray jersey when she was tackled by security. According to the animal rights group, “She attempted to whistle to stop play as she approached Taylor at his courtside seat, to issue a ‘technical foul and ejection,’ along with a ‘fine’ against Forbes’ richest billionaire in Minnesota.”
It’s the third protest at a Timberwolves game masterminded by the organization.
On April 16 during Game 1 of the playoff series, an animal rights activist chained herself to the basket stanchion. The woman, wearing a T-shirt that read: “Glen Taylor Roasts Animals Alive” — tried to lock herself to the hoop during a stoppage of play in the second quarter after throwing flyers on the floor. Direct Action Everywhere identified the woman as Zoe Rosenburg.
Hopefully, the T-Wolves gave the security lady a bonues, but they really need to beef things up considering how easily these protestors are getting on to the court.
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