On February 9, 2025, New Orleans hosted Tremendous Bowl LIX on the Caesars Superdome.
Through the halftime present, one thing surprising occurred when one of many performers ran throughout the sphere waving a flag that mentioned “Sudan and Free Gaza.” Safety and police shortly stepped in and stopped the person after he refused to comply with their orders.
The person was later recognized as 41-year-old Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, an area from New Orleans. He was employed as an additional performer for the halftime present and was allowed to be on the sphere, however he was not allowed to protest or show any messages. After a brief investigation, Troop NOLA Troopers and the NFL confirmed what occurred, and an arrest warrant was issued.
On June 26, 2025, Nantambu turned himself in with the assistance of his lawyer. He was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Heart on costs of Resisting an Officer and Disturbing the Peace by Interrupting a Lawful Meeting.
After his arrest, Nantambu launched a video assertion explaining his actions. He mentioned, “Let me first off by saying Illhamduallah, persons are nonetheless struggling in locations like Sudan and all around the world, and the publicity is round me getting arrested for a protest is extra vital than the individuals which might be dying always. We’ve got some inner issues we have to repair and we now have world issues. However I’m going to face in solidarity with my New Orleans brothers and sisters.”
Nantambu isn’t any stranger to serving to others. He’s the founding father of the Open Ebook Platform, a corporation that brings Muslims collectively and promotes peace. His work goes far past New Orleans. Through the holy month of Ramadan, he traveled to Cairo, Egypt, the place he helped feed the much less lucky and supported struggling households. His aim has at all times been to face with Muslims all over the world, not simply in his hometown.
He has additionally labored in among the hardest locations in America, together with a latest go to to “O-Block,” considered one of Chicago’s most harmful neighborhoods. There, he spoke with native residents and tried to encourage them to seek out peace by religion and group assist.
Whereas his Tremendous Bowl protest brought on debate, it additionally sparked vital conversations about freedom of speech and world struggling. For Nantambu, it was one other step in his ongoing mission to talk up for the unvoiced and produce individuals collectively by religion and motion.
