Game On: Sports News, Highlights & Commentary
- Banner displayed calls to "SAVE AMERICA" and "DEPORT 100+ MILLION", then was quickly taken down.
- The Washington Nationals condemned discriminatory rhetoric after an usher's attempt to confiscate the banner; holders fled.
- Jake Lang claimed credit; stadium magnetometers detect weapons but would not flag a nylon banner.
The Washington Nationals have identified at least one person who will be banned from the ballpark after a banner promoting a white nationalist website was unfurled in the crowd during Sunday’s game.
A team spokesperson also said the Nationals are coordinating with District of Columbia police on an investigation.
In addition to the website, the banner included a call to “SAVE AMERICA” and “DEPORT 100+ MILLION” before it was quickly taken down.
The Nationals, who lost the game 7-3 to the Baltimore Orioles, have a “Salute to Service” during games, honoring veterans and military personnel before the fourth inning. It was then that the banner was unfurled in the upper deck of the stadium.
An usher attempted to confiscate the banner but the three individuals holding the sign pulled it back and fled, according to a team spokesperson. The individuals resisted the usher’s efforts to remove the banner before fleeing.
“The Washington Nationals vehemently condemn discriminatory and hateful rhetoric, and we strive to make our home field a safe space for our fans,” the team said in a statement.
The team’s policy on banners and signs mostly requires that they be related to baseball, with some allowances for messages about the broadcasting entity or birthdays, anniversaries and “similar family-friendly greetings.”
Jake Lang, a 6 January rioter and conservative influencer, took credit for the banner on social media. The Athletic reported that it is not clear how the banner got through security. The stadium’s magnetometers are able to detect weapons but would not flag something like a nylon sign.
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