Portland & Seattle soccer fans stage silent protest - not allowed anti-fascist signage

[underpants]

Timbers, Sounders fan groups protest silently

https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3927069/timberssounders-fan-groups-protest-silently

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Groups of supporters of the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders staged a silent protest for the first 33 minutes of Friday's match involving the two teams.

The groups were protesting Major League Soccer's ban on political signage, and in particular the Iron Front symbol, which was used by an anti-Nazi paramilitary organization before World War II.

The supporters groups contend that the Iron Front symbol is intended to promote inclusion, anti-fascism and anti-racism. MLS has stated the symbol is connected to the antifa movement in the U.S. and thus constitutes a link to a political organization.

As the protest ended, the Timbers Army sang "Bella Ciao," an Italian anti-fascist anthem from World War II.

In recognition of the fans' complaints, both teams posed ahead of kickoff for a group photo with small banners that read "anti-fascist" and "anti-racist." The teams' Twitter accounts also posted messages reading, "Bigger than a rivalry. We stand together against fascism and racism."

Link to tweet

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[gratuitous]

1. It's been quite the topic

While my sympathies lie with the fans, Providence Park belongs to the Timbers, as the Timbers belong to the city. Which means that if there's any unpleasantness (I know, soccer fans brawling! Whoever heard of such a thing?), it's the Timbers who have to clean it up. Also, if the Timbers allow anti-fascist political signs, they'll have to allow fascist political signs in their public venue. And truly nobody of good conscience wants to see that happen.

That said, the silent protest was rather remarkable. Ain't no fans like Portland's fans.

[underpants]

3. Thanks for the local knowledge

Yeah I guess there is that but they could change to language to only exclude hateful signage.



I don't follow MLS much but Portland does have quite the fan base from what I understand. Seattle too.

[Reader Rabbit]

4. Providence Park doesn't belong to the Timbers.

The Timbers have, I believe, a long-term lease. The stadium itself belongs to the City of Portland.

[AllaN01Bear]

2. this

One morning I woke up,
or beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye, bye, bye!
One morning I woke up,
and I found the invader.

O partisan, take me away,
or beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye, bye, bye!
O partisan, take me away,
because I feel like dying.

And if I die as a partisan,
or beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye, bye, bye!
And if I die as a partisan,
you must bury me.

And bury them up there in the mountains,
or beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye, bye, bye!
And bury them up there in the mountains,
under the shadow of a beautiful flower.

All the people who will pass,
or beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye, bye, bye!
All the people who will pass,
They will say "What a beautiful flower!"
"This is the flower of the partisan",
or beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye! beautiful, bye, bye, bye!
"This is the flower of the partisan, dead for freedom!"

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