The U.S. Department of Justice is currently examining an incident that took place at a professional women’s soccer match in Portland, Oregon. The event, which occurred at Providence Park during a game between the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Courage, involved supporters of women’s sports being forcibly removed by stadium security. These supporters were reportedly struck with flagpoles wielded by other spectators promoting pro-transgender messages.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice informed Fox News Digital that they are aware of the reports and will thoroughly investigate the situation. They emphasized that action will be taken if the facts and law justify such measures. A DOJ official remarked that the conduct appears to raise questions about viewpoint discrimination and the First Amendment, rather than issues of sex discrimination.
The Portland Police Bureau has logged two potential crimes connected to the incident. Although officers often work at events like these, they were not initially involved in removing individuals. However, they intervened when some spectators refused to leave, blocking an exit. Sergeant Kevin Allen explained that police asked the individuals to leave, to which they agreed. Outside the venue, law enforcement briefly separated conflicting groups to ensure public safety. Reported cases involved alleged harassment and vandalism, but no injuries were reported, and no arrests were made.
During the incident, about 20 spectators initially kept their XX-XY Athletics shirts covered. These shirts and a large “Save Women’s Sports” banner were revealed as the match progressed into the second half. Activist Amy Sousa and commentator Brandi Kruse, known for their support of WNBA player Sophie Cunningham, were part of this group. The confrontation reportedly included them being struck with flagpoles, facing profanity, and being physically removed by security.
Sousa mentioned that she and others filed police reports following the altercation. She stated they were attacked by fans and security restrained Kruse’s arm during their removal. OutKick reporter Matt Calkins also experienced aggression, having his phone knocked away and beer spilled on him while covering the incident.
The situation raises legal questions about government and private actions at publicly owned venues. Viewpoint discrimination involves restricting expression based on opinion and is generally prohibited by the Supreme Court. Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 242 allows for prosecution if a person acting under law deprives someone of federally protected rights.
The Department of Justice’s examination will consider if there was any government involvement in the decision to remove fans based on their views, which could lead to federal charges. The Thorns’ home stadium, operated by Peregrine Sports, LLC, is owned by the City of Portland, further complicating the potential implications of government involvement.
OutKick has reached out to Portland city officials, Peregrine Sports, and the Thorns for comments regarding the Department of Justice’s ongoing review and concerns over possible viewpoint discrimination. However, they had not received any responses at the time of the report.