The man who pulled out a said he felt compelled to use his moment at the Super Bowl to “highlight the human suffering.”
During the performance, Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu, 41, pulled out the flag with the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” written on it. He told NBC News on Monday that he was accepted about a month ago to be a member of the field cast after someone shared an application with him.
in the ongoing war, and a bloody .
President Donald Trump, who was at Sunday’s game in New Orleans, just days before said the United States should . Trump said Palestinians .
Trump said Monday that under his plan, . That would be an unacceptable outcome, Nantambu said.
Nantambu said he believes that there is good in Trump and that he “needs to act on that good.”
“I hope God shifts Trump’s heart to be empathetic and compassionate to those who are suffering in Palestine and do what is right by the Palestinians,” Nantambu said. “And if he can, help the Sudanese — which I’m sure he can.”
Nantambu said his protest was inspired by his Islamic faith, which he said represents truth, justice and peace, and his love for the Palestinian and Sudanese people who are suffering.
“And I know it would invigorate their faith, seeing somebody supporting them and thinking about them on such a grand stage to bring awareness to that, to their struggles,” he said.
A representative for Roc Nation, which produced the show, said that the incident was not planned and that the “individual” acted on their own.
Nantambu said Lamar’s performance and kept him from backing out of his protest.
“He had the people formulate the American flag; he had two big black flags with his record label,” Nantambu said. “And he talked about ‘the revolution being televised,’ and he talked about consciousness.”
The show also featured actor Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, providing commentary and criticism.
Nantambu said that toward the end of the performance, he climbed onto the Buick GNX and pulled out the flag.
He then tried to join the flagbearers on the field, which is when video posted online shows security detaining him. Nantambu said he was questioned after security rushed him off the field Sunday night. But ultimately, he was released without any charges.
The NFL has banned the protester for life from its stadiums and events. Apple Music, which sponsored the show, declined to comment.
Nantambu was identified on social media, and he . He said that while he prepared for the worst, he also “hoped for the best” before he unveiled his flag.
And part of that hope is that others will be more outspoken, he said.
“Maybe we don’t have the military prowess to stop the war, but we can at least do what we can to help those who are afflicted by these different atrocities in these countries,” he said.
