Women’s Sports Activists Ejected from Portland Soccer Match

The Department of Justice is investigating the ejection of ‘Save Women’s Sports’ activists from a Portland Thorns soccer match. This review focuses on potential First Amendment violations. Activist Amy Sousa discussed the incident with host Harris Faulkner and the resulting backlash.

About 20 activists wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts were removed from the match. This occurred after group members were physically and verbally attacked by other fans during their protest supporting female-only sports. Sousa and other attendees filed police reports after the ejection.

During a segment on ‘The Faulkner Focus,’ Sousa reported being targeted with food, beer, and other objects. The protestors had displayed a ‘Save Women’s Sports’ banner, prompting a backlash from trans supporters. Sousa remarked on the irony of their removal from a women’s sports event despite supporting the core category of women’s sports.

Security communicated that the XX-XY shirts did not breach any policy. However, Sousa speculated that their removal was due to an inability to ensure their safety from harassing fans. She expressed confusion as to why the harassers were not expelled instead.

Director of Security Jim McCausland declined to comment on the issue. The Thorns’ communication director also did not respond regarding the incident. OutKick reporter Matt Calkins, present at the match, faced hostility while documenting the events. He endured verbal abuse, physical threats, and interference while interviewing Sousa.

This was not the first ejection of Sousa and her supporters from a Thorns game. A similar incident occurred in early September, where Sousa faced accusations of being ‘transphobic’ due to her apparel.

Despite these challenges, Sousa highlighted the movement’s focus on protecting the integrity of sex-based sports categories. She reiterated the importance of Title IX in ensuring equal opportunities and fair competition for girls.

‘This is about defending the integrity of girls’ sports,’ Sousa emphasized. Recent events in Camas, Washington, where 12 girls protested a male competitor, illustrate the struggles girls face. She stressed the need for adult support in advocating for young athletes.