About 100 Sounders supporters encountered 12 members of the Proud Boys white-nationalist organization who "yelled expletives" at them during their march to yesterday's home game against Sporting K.C., according to Jayda Evans of the SEATTLE TIMES. The taunts were "prompted in part from news of Emerald City Supporters" -- an independent Sounders supporters group -- being "warned about displaying an Iron Front flag at a July 21 match." The Iron Front symbol is "broadly accepted as anti-fascist." MLS "classified the Iron Front as political imagery and banned it from its stadiums." However, multiple MLS supporters groups are "challenging the league’s stance, particularly after" the mass shootings that took place over the weekend. The Emerald City Supporters are "joined in support" by Gorilla FC and Sounders FC Alliance in "challenging the league about its definitions of political imagery." Actor Drew Carey, who is an investor in the Sounders, reiterated yesterday that "not flying the Iron Front flag is a league rule." Fans will be "suspended for three home MLS matches if spotted flying the Iron Front flag." No one was "reported removed from the stadium by security" yesterday for wearing shirts with the imagery. The Sounders said that many fans have told them they "don't want any political imagery at soccer games" (SEATTLE TIMES, 8/5).
KEEPING THE PEACE: SB NATION's Mark Kastner wrote the members of the Proud Boys that showed up yesterday were there to "cause a ruckus" and "at least two of the agitators were openly carrying firearms." The Emerald City Supporters and their leadership "should be commended for ignoring the dozen or so agitators that were obviously trying to start a confrontation." Seattle PD was "present during the march, with more officers than usual" (SBNATION.com, 8/4).
