The New Jersey chapter of the NAACP on Wednesday called out the Philadelphia Eagles for tearing down a flag symbolizing support for Israel during last Sunday’s home game with the Eagles – and criticized the team for kicking the flag’s owner, George Norcross, out of the stadium for hanging it from his suite.
The flag, approximately 3×5 feet in size, was a combination of the flags of the U.S. and Israel. (See video of incident here.)
Richard Smith, President of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference and national NAACP board member, said he struggled to understand the NFL’s stance on flags – saying it felt Colin Kaepernick was disrespectful to the flag for kneeling during the national anthem, but that flying a flag in support of a key ally was disrespectful, too.
“What does it say to the world when displaying our flag and that of an ally lead to ejection of a patron from a sporting event?” Smith wrote.
Smith openly questioned what flags would or would not be allowed to be hung.
“What’s the new standard in the NFL?” he wrote. “Is it all flags that are banned at Eagles games? Is it only the Israeli flag? Will LBGTQ fans be permitted to display a rainbow flag at a game?”
Smith wondered what groups would be allowed to express themselves, too.
“Will Jews, Muslims, Christians, Gays, African Americans and others be able to peacefully and respectfully express themselves at public stadiums – or are the Eagles and the NFL about to ban more than the Colin Kaepernick’s from peaceful First Amendment activities?” he wrote.
The incident drew national attention.
Norcross already has threatened to sue the Eagles and the NFL. More than that, he has said he intends to show his support again. The Eagles next home game is Nov. 26. In an op-ed that appeared on the USA Today Network Tuesday, Norcross questioned why his show of support didn’t match the statement the Eagles themselves put out – or the actions the league has taken against Russia since it invaded Ukraine.
“I told the security guard in no uncertain terms I wouldn’t take (the flag) down because it was important to make a clear statement that America was standing by its longtime ally, Israel, after 1,400 of its citizens were brutally murdered and hostages were taken by the terrorist group Hamas on Oct. 7,” he wrote.
The Eagles, on Sunday night, said the content of the flag was not an issue, but that hanging it violated stadium policy that prohibits the display of any sign.
“Our stadium policies expressly prohibit signage containing any kind of non-game messaging to be hung from a stadium suite,” the team said.
Here is the complete statement from Smith:
The NAACP New Jersey State Conference was disturbed to learn of the events at Philadelphia Eagles game this weekend. American and Israeli Flags were hung from a luxury suite at Lincoln Financial Field by a prominent Eagles fan. The flags and fan were both banished from the stadium. The stadium is a public place, funded with tax dollars.
Our county was founded on the principles of the First Amendment. We hold ourselves out as ambassadors for free expression. What does it say to the world when displaying our flag and that of an ally lead to ejection of a patron from a sporting event? When Colin Kaepernick took a knee in protest, he was labeled disrespectful to the American flag. Now, a proud display of our flag and that of Israel draws the ire of the NFL.
What’s the new standard in the NFL? Is it all flags that are banned at Eagles games? Is it only the Israeli flag? Will LBGTQ fans be permitted to display a rainbow flag at a game? Will Jews, Muslims, Christians, Gays, African Americans and others be able to peacefully and respectfully express themselves at public stadiums? Or are the Eagles and the NFL about to ban more than the Colin Kaepernick’s from peaceful First Amendment activities?
