Portland Thorns Eject 8 Fans Over Pro-Women Apparel at NWSL Match
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 6
Portland Thorns Eject 8 Fans Over Pro-Women Apparel at NWSL Match
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 6
Summary
Eight spectators were escorted from Providence Park during the Portland Thorns' Sept. 6 match after security cited their shirts and XX-XY Athletics gear as a code-of-conduct infraction.
Video showed Amy Sousa's group seated in assigned seats when staff handed them a notice warning of possible added penalties within 72 hours and potential future bans if they refused to provide personal information.
Sousa said the group had not caused a disturbance or even displayed the shirts before the ejection, and later said venue staff accused them of being transphobic.
Hannah Perry, a local LGBT organizer, had urged Portland police, the mayor, Gov. Tina Kotek and Providence Park to remove the group before kickoff.
The incident spotlights how the NWSL's ban on political or advocacy imagery is enforced at a city-owned stadium, with Providence Park, the Thorns and the league not immediately commenting.