Justice Department Reviews Removal of XX-XY Shirt Wearers From Portland Thorns Match
Rights & JusticeWell-covered
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The Facts
- The Justice Department said it is reviewing the incident at the Portland Thorns match.
- The incident occurred during a Portland Thorns match against the North Carolina Courage at Providence Park.
- A group of about 20 spectators displayed XX-XY Athletics shirts during the second half.
- The group displayed a banner reading “Save Women’s Sports.”
- Security escorted members of the group from the stadium.
- Justice Department officials said the reported conduct may raise First Amendment and viewpoint-discrimination questions.
Context
What is XX-XY Athletics?
XX-XY Athletics is a clothing brand founded by Jennifer Sey that advocates sex-based categories in women’s sports; critics describe its messaging as anti-trans. Nerd Stash Conservative News &…
Who was among the spectators removed?
Accounts identified political commentator Brandi Kruse as among the group, and RedState also identified activist Amy Sousa. Redstate Post Millennial Nerd Stash Conservative News &…
What action has the Justice Department announced?
A department spokesperson said the agency would review the matter and would act if the facts and law warranted it. Fox News Right Scoop Fox Wilmington
Where Left and Right agree
Left and right largely agree on this one.
- What both sides accept
- Ejecting the XX-XY-shirt group over their message, rather than disruptive conduct, was wrong and warrants real scrutiny.
- Where Left and Right differ in emphasis
- The left and the right agree the Thorns ejection deserves scrutiny, but they part on what it proves.
How left and right read it
The power to escort someone out over the words on a shirt lands hardest on whoever a venue likes least, so it cannot be exercised by mood. Rules must apply evenly. That is why the removal of roughly twenty spectators displaying XX-XY Athletics shirts and a "Save Women's Sports" banner deserves impartial review against what the venue's rules actually require — did security act on conduct, or on the message?
Standing up for girls' sports should not cost you your seat. Roughly twenty people wore XX-XY Athletics shirts and held a "Save Women's Sports" banner at Providence Park, yet it was that group security removed, while accounts describe them as the ones jeered and struck. Conviction is not disorder.
“Other spectators, described in the account as supporters of transgender inclusion in women's sports, allegedly responded with verbal abuse and physical aggression, including striking members of the group with flagpoles carrying trans flags.” — Fox News
Twenty fans in XX-XY shirts got escorted out of Providence Park. The real question: was security policing conduct, or opinion?
The receipts — 8 sources
Independent coverage (8)
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