During the Civil Rights Movement, when Black folks struggled for integration in schools, housing and public services, they turned sports fandom into a potent weapon. Sports fans protested and boycotted games to force their teams to integrate. Black sportswriters like Jim Hall, Marcel Hopson, Marion Jackson and Lloyd Wells kept their readers informed of these boycotts, which helped change the landscape of professional sports in the South.
The fan protests over the UEFA decision to bar Crystal Palace from the Europa League and demote them to the Conference League are just the latest example. While it is unlikely to have any impact on the outcome of the appeal at CAS, the move is a reminder that football fans aren’t going to give up without a fight.
Fans at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are not happy with owner Daniel Levy’s high ticket prices. They have staged several protests over the past year to show their displeasure. Some fans have even given up their season tickets to protest the club’s direction.
At the Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park, fans from Angel City Brigade and other groups walked out in protest of the team’s silence on immigration raids in Southern California before the home game against Vancouver on July 12. The groups were banned for the rest of the season, but they plan to return next year with an even louder voice. They will face a tougher task, though. The Trump administration has shown no hesitancy in punishing perceived enemies, and fear of reprisal may cause teams to crack down on fan speech more quickly than usual.