Animal rights protester chains herself to basket during NBA playoff game

Other than the audio issues ESPN faced during Saturday’s NBA playoff game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies, the game had to come to a stop during the second quarter for a surprising reason.

A protester chained herself to the base of the basket in Memphis’ FedExForum, and once she was noticed, it took over a minute for security to cut off the chain and remove her from the court.

So far, no one knows how the protester was able to sneak what seemed to be a metal chain through security and into the FedExForum.

As noted by ESPN’s Ros Gold-Onwude, this protester was not alone in fighting for this particular cause, as another animal rights activist took to the Timberwolves’ court during their play-in game earlier in the week. In that instance, the activist attempted to glue herself to the court by her wrists.

It seems that chains were more effective than glue because the first protester was taken off the premise almost immediately. Still, neither were as effective as the oil protester who was able to zip tie himself by the neck to a goal post at a Premier League match last month.

But both NBA protesters were wearing T-shirts that said, “Glen Taylor Roasts Animals Alive,” referencing alleged practices at the chicken farm of the outgoing Timberwolves owner. The allegations had been laid out in a statement from the group behind both the game disruptions.

The group is advocating for the sale of the NBA team from Taylor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore to be hastened with Taylor leaving his post in day-to-day team operations immediately. They added a demand saying the billionaire should additionally donate $11.3 million in federal subsidies to public health charities and animal sanctuaries.

Following the interruption, the Timberwolves finished the game on top, defeating the Grizzlies 130-117.