The Washington Nationals have identified and banned one fan from their stadium for displaying a banner calling for the deportation of ‘100+ million’ and publicizing a white nationalist website.
The incident occurred during the Nationals’ 7-3 home loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.Â
An usher attempted to have the banner taken down and confiscated not long after it had been unfurled in the upper deck along the first-base line.
However, a team spokesperson revealed the three individuals who were holding it up managed to keep it away from the usher before quickly fleeing the stadium.
The incident took place during the Nationals’ daily ‘Salute to Service’ tribute, a break in play before the fourth inning where veterans and military personnel are honored.Â
In a statement, the Nationals said: ‘The Washington Nationals vehemently condemn discriminatory and hateful rhetoric, and we strive to make our home field a safe space for our fans.’
The Washington Nationals have banned a fan from their stadium for displaying a banner calling for the deportation of ‘100+ million’ and publicizing a white nationalist website
The incident occurred during the Nationals 7-3 home loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday
The team is now working with the Metropolitan Police Department on an investigation into the incident. The individual who has been banned was not identified.Â
But on social media, January 6 rioter and conservative influencer Jake Lang took credit for the vile stunt.
Alongside a video of the banner being displayed, he wrote: ‘The Crusaders have just completed our first MASSIVE FLAG DROP at the Washington Nationals MLB game!!!!!
‘THE CROWD WENT ABSOLUTELY NUTS!!!! (They might have killed us if we didn’t get escorted out…)’
It remains to be seen how the fans got the banner into the stadium, given all bags must be clear and of a certain size. The stadium’s magnetometers would not be alerted to a nylon sign, either.Â
Nationals Park’s guidelines on banners state the stadium is ‘not a forum or place for use by the public at large for assembly and speech, for use by certain speakers or for the discussion of certain subjects.’Â
