Minnesota United supporters in The Wonderwall unveiled a “END GUN VIOLENCE” banner before Saturday’s game against Portland Timbers at Allianz Field. It was in response to the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in south Minneapolis on Wednesday.
The banner was originally made by Austin FC supporters after the elementary school shooting in nearby Uvalde, Texas in 2022. It has been sent to Nashville SC after that community had a shooting at an elementary school in 2023. The sign was then driven to Louisville after a shooting at a bank in 2023 and art was displayed for Louisville City (USL) and Racing Louisville (NWSL) matches, according to the Texas Monthly.
United supporters also made hearts with the first names of the two children killed: 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski.
Once the MNUFC match started Saturday, the club’s diehard fans in the south stand of Allianz Field remained silent for the first two minutes to honor the two slain children. Then they sang “You Are My Sunshine.” After that, they broke into their “M-N-U-F-C” chant.
United players and staff wore black armbands for unity with the victims and families affected. Eighteen others were wounded.
Before the national anthem, the Loons held a moment of silence for those affected. The club held a moment of silence earlier this year after the killing of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark as well as the wounding of State Sen. John Hoffman and wife, Yvette.
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