DOJ must get answers on the ejection of women defending girls’ sports

OutKick reports that about 20 spectators kept their XX-XY Athletics shirts covered through the first half of Friday’s match against the North Carolina Courage, then revealed them and unfurled a “Save Women’s Sports” banner as the second half began. The Justice Department is right to review the ejections: a DOJ official separately said, “Based on what is known so far, the conduct described appears to raise viewpoint discrimination and First Amendment questions rather than sex discrimination. The Department is reviewing it.”

A department spokesperson told Fox News Digital: “The Justice Department is aware of these reports and will review the matter thoroughly. Where the facts and the law warrant action, the Department will not hesitate to act”¹ Did security enforce a conduct rule, or punish a viewpoint?

“The idea that we would be attacked and removed for speech some fans disagree with is a hallmark of authoritarianism, pure and simple.”

Brandi Kruse

Women wearing XX-XY shirts were removed

Footage showed members of the group struck with flagpoles carrying transgender flags and physically removed by security, according to OutKick².

Commentator Brandi Kruse, one of the organizers, said: “We did nothing wrong.”³ Security should have to explain what justified removing the people being struck.

The city owns the stadium, not the team

Providence Park belongs to the City of Portland and is operated by Peregrine Sports, LLC; RAJ Sports separately owns the Thorns, OutKick reports². Portland cannot leave the explanation entirely to the team.

The city should identify what authority its stadium operator exercises over spectators and what safeguards protect expression. Peregrine Sports and the Thorns should identify who controlled security and whose policy governed the removals.

Police deny involvement

Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Sergeant Kevin Allen told Fox News Digital: “PPB officers were not involved in any removals. They were called in when some individuals were refusing to leave and laying down, blocking an exit.”² Allen said officers were called when some people refused to leave and blocked an exit; his statement describes the police response, not the stadium security decision to remove the women.

The bureau said alleged harassment and alleged vandalism remained under investigation. Security director Jim McCausland said he did not have time to speak². The people responsible for stadium security should make time now.

The Thorns and Portland owe women answers

The Thorns and Portland owe women answers and apologies Kruse put the danger plainly: “The idea that we would be attacked and removed for speech some fans disagree with is a hallmark of authoritarianism, pure and simple.”⁴

DOJ should follow the decision from the security personnel who carried it out to whoever authorized it. The Thorns, Peregrine Sports, RAJ Sports and Portland should provide the applicable policy and explain how it was applied to each group.

Parents should demand direct answers: Who ordered the ejections? What conduct justified them? Did security apply the same standard to the people wielding the flagpoles? Will women be allowed to display the same message without being removed? The Thorns and Portland owe these women answers, swift apologies and a clear commitment that defending girls’ sports is no grounds for ejection.

DOJ must get answers on the ejection of women defending girls’ sports

Women wearing XX-XY shirts were removed

The city owns the stadium, not the team

Police deny involvement

The Thorns and Portland owe women answers

Sources