Thread by @mlsrumors

If the ban of Iron Front symbol by MLS taught us anything it is that the fight against racism & fascism in MLS starts at the top. As promised we're about to begin our series of tweets today exposing the actions of owners who "Crossed the Line" & influenced the new Code of Conduct

Before we get to that we thought it best to provide some context to how we got here. While this list of incidents is by no means comprehensive it shows a pattern of behavior of MLS acting against supporters affirming human rights by displaying anti-discrimination messages.

We start in 2015 where in Toronto, fans who held a sign saying "Refugees Welcome" were forced to remove the banner. The league officials lied saying that they were not in a supporters section, which they were: fusion.tv/story/198057/t…

In 2017 two Seattle supporters in Vancouver, BC held a banner which said "Anti-Fascist, Anti-Racist, Always Seattle". League officials asked them to remove it and the police were called in. Its holders were threatened with arrest and were ejected (VIDEO) whatahowler.com/mls-considers-…

MLS's headquarters now considered statements against racism & fascism, political ones. The Seattle Sounders owners together, in support of its fans signed a letter rebuking the league stating the display was an expression of non-political values: sounderatheart.com/2017/10/31/165…

Seattle's Emerald City Supporters (ECS) also created a tifo display in support of the two ECS members who had been threatened with arrest in Vancouver. Their display sent a clear message that they wouldn't be silenced: sounderatheart.com/2017/11/2/1660…

At the time one who might not have been paying close attention to the rise of hate crimes in the USA might have wondered: "What's all this about? Is there a problem with racists and fascists in MLS?" MLS does not exist in a vacuum and that would become ever clearer.

In 2018 The Athletic published an article on the beginning of racist/fascists groups attending New York City FC's games: theathletic.com/627781/2018/11…

If that wasn't bad enough the New York City FC security intimidated anyone with an anti-racism or anti-fascism banner while a member of the racist group was not removed leading this person to question MLS's priorities in policing its stadiums.

https://twitter.com/NYCFirm/status/1057778983138418688

In 2019 The Huffington Post, the Guardian and the Daily Dot all published articles on the rising problem of racists/fascists infiltrating NYCFC matches: huffpost.com/entry/new-york…

theguardian.com/football/2019/…

dailydot.com/layer8/major-l…

In March of 2019 MLS published an updated Code of Conduct. There were instant concerns that it would be used against those protesting against the rise of racist & fascist groups as this statement from Minnesota United's Dark Clouds supporters group states: dark-clouds.com/2019/03/dark-c…

Last week after a series of discussions with Portland's front office, MLS were finally able to successfully remove the Iron Front symbol whose 3 arrows for decades symbolized the fight against three threats to democracy: fascism, communism and democracy. timbersarmy.org/Blog/7367159

This act now set a dangerous precedent. The reason given was that the Iron Front symbol had been recently adopted by "a violent group" despite the overwhelming history of its use by peaceful groups who have affirmed human rights and opposed racism and fascism.

Furthermore, if the league wanted this reasoning could in the future be used to ban everything from Pride and Trans Inclusion flags (Stonewall Riots celebrated during Pride Month started with a "violent act" of self defense) to the cross (KKK has burned it for centuries).

The Code of Conduct could even be used to ban the Cascadia "Doug" flag itself since there have been attempts by fascist groups to appropriate the bioregional flag in their attempt to promote a "white ethnostate". Even the American flag itself has been used by similar groups.

MLS taking the Iron Front symbol away from the peaceful,socially conscious Portland Timbers supporters under that flawed premise is not only disingenuous but it gives power to whatever "violent group" has supposedly appropriated it and re-writes its history in a way fascists want

In a conversation on KOPB radio in Portland it was mentioned that the Iron Front symbol was specifically singled out by the league. One might as why? We have some ideas as to that which we'll present as we examine an owner who has a history of backing racist candidates & groups.

MLS's slogan of "Don't Cross the Line" at this point seems to be a facade. If it's recent Chick-fil-A sponsorship, a company which has actively campaigned against the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people doesn't make that clear, what we will present next will. Stay tuned and RT 1st msg

Made a typo, the Iron Front Symbol's 3 arrows for decades symbolized the fight against three threats to democracy: fascism, communism and monarchy.