Ep. 71: The Seattle Sounders, MLS, and the Need for Courage Against Fascism — John Murphy, Tacoma Against Nazis and Shannon McMinimee, lawyer for the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club

August 8, 2019

EXTRA, EXTRA: This is a special Fight the Fash edition of the Nerd Farmer Podcast.

In response to the decision by Major League Soccer and the Seattle Sounders to ban supporters from displaying the Iron Front, an anti-fascist flag, we decided to convene a conversation with two local anti-fascist activists. In response to events this weekend, we’ve decided to accelerate the release of this episode. 

For those not in the know, the Iron Front is a three-arrow flag that dates back to Weimar Germany (pre-WWII). In its original rendering, the three arrows represented opposition to rising Nazism, opposition to a return to monarchy, and opposition to Stalinism. Members of the Iron Front used the symbol to literally cover swastikas in the streets and in their communities. It has been a symbol of anti-fascism/Nazism around the world for nearly 80 years. 

This conversation was recorded the day before the El Paso shooting and the publishing of the shooter’s right-wing manifesto. The day after that shooting a group of armed Proud Boys tried to force their way into Fuel, the home bar for ECS, the Seattle Sounders main supporters group. After failing to gain entry into the bar the Proud Boys harassed Sounders fans, eventually assaulting one. The response from the Sounders front office has been silence and as an Inaugural Season Ticket Holder, I find this unacceptable. 

It may seem odd to invoke Reagan in a situation like this, but in 1964 he delivered a speech called “A Time for Choosing.” In 2019, when it comes to combating violent white-supremacy, emboldened fascists, and the presence of Neo-Nazis in our communities, this is a time for choosing. So far Major League Soccer and the Seattle Sounders have chosen dreadfully, but it’s not too late. 

 

Going Further/Mentioned in the Show 

Neo-Nazism and violent fascists at NYCFC

White-nationalists try to enter Fuel

Sounders fan assaulted by Proud Boys

ADL Database of Hate Symbols

 

Post-Script: Ironically, as I was writing these show notes my renewal invoice for my season tickets arrived via email. It is also a time for choosing for me.

 

Comments are closed.