A number of Portland Timbers fans have been banned from attending games at Providence Park for three matches after flying Iron Front flags during the team’s last home game against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, August 31st.
This latest development in the ongoing situation surrounding the anti-fascist symbol and Major League Soccer’s new Fan Code of Conduct banning “political” signage in stadiums around the league was met with an immediate response from the Timbers Army/107IST, the nonprofit engine behind the Timbers Army and Rose City Riveters, who continue to stand in protest of the League’s stance, specifically citing the “misapplication of the Fan Code of Conduct” and its “failure to consult with human rights experts in the Code’s creation.”
In protest of the league’s decision to hand down bans, the Timbers Army has announced that they will “fly no flags of any sort or deploy any smoke for goal celebrations” at this weekend’s game against Sporting Kansas City, Instead, the supporter’s group will “focus on education,” with “banners featuring words instead of symbols to remind the world of our unwavering opposition to fascism and to discrimination.”
The 107IST also confirmed that they have agreed to meet with Portland Timbers Front Office in the coming week, along with “several social justice organizations that specialize in protecting marginalized communities in Oregon.” The meeting will welcome a discussion of the bans, along with larger issues, including the ongoing efforts “to ensure that Providence Park and the surrounding streets are safe and welcoming for marginalized groups.”
Stand by for further details.
Wait so the TA’s courageous stance consists of temporarily witholding smoke bombs?
Wtf??? Stick up for your members, TA. If you keep buying tickets while these three are locked out, that means you’ve caved.
They apparently don’t know what it takes to change the minds of owners. When you hurt their wallets they listen up. You do this by not buying tickets. Plain and simple. They would soon come around.
Tickets were purchased months ago, people.
Sooo… You’re saying that standing up to fascism is important, sure, but if you’ve already paid for the tickets, it’d be a shame for them to go to waste?
Stop being daft. Your point was that they should hurt ownership by not buying tickets. That ship sailed long ago – last August, 2018 to be precise. I know most people are currently refusing to buy concessions at the match, which is how they can impact the pocketbook here and now. And lack of support IS getting to Paulson – he chewed out a number of fans and blamed them for the Seattle loss, which of course is laughable. But the tension is real, and Paulson is feeling the impacts.
It is you, sir, being daft.
What the point is, is that the TA are like a codependent spouse: unhappy, ignored and disrespected, but they’re not going anywhere no matter how bad it gets. Merritt knows it and they know it.
Even the Mercury’s sad pathetic coverage keeps implying that Paulson really really wants to be a cool guy –he’s FORCED by the league to crack down. The comments you reference make it clear that this theory’s a sad fantasy, but hope springs eternal!
The TA can change him! Sure, that’s it!