Soccer team scrutinized after podcaster escorted away

Oct. 27—Pressure is increasing on Providence Park Stadium and the Portland Thorns soccer team following an incident Friday night in which Seattle podcaster Brandi Kruse and several others said they were assaulted and forcibly removed from the game because they wore shirts from XX-XY Athletics, a brand that maintains women's sports should be for women and girls only.In video posted by Kruse, a female security guard, is seen grabbing and twisting Kruse's arm, pinning it against her back, then pushing her up the stairs and out through the stands, as other fans waving trans-flags shouted "shame" and vulgar insults."I was just forcefully removed from a @ThornsFC game for the crime of wearing an XX-XY Athletics T-shirt. I am in shock. We peacefully wore our shirts. We were assaulted by fans. Then WE were forced to leave — with FORCE by stadium security. I am utterly in shock," Kruse posted Friday evening.The incident is being reviewed by the Department of Justice, according to media reports."The Justice Department is aware of these reports and will review the matter thoroughly. Where the facts and the law warrant action, the Department will not hesitate to act," according to a statement from the department carried by Fox News.Kruse can be heard in the video initially saying she has purchased a ticket and was not going to leave, then repeatedly asking what she had done wrong and why she was being kicked out.Several other X posts from others in Kruse's group, who were also wearing XX-XY shirts, posted video showing fans hitting Kruse and others with flags and a 57-year-old woman in the group was shoved down two rows and seats.AdvertisementThe woman filed a police report Friday night after the group was kicked out, according to one video.Another in the group with Kruse was Ari Laureano, an online advocate and content creator known for sharing his personal experience as a detransitioner. Video shows Ari screaming back at the trans activists after being repeatedly hit with flags."I'm a castrated gay man! Stop touching me with that flag!" shouted Laureano. "Your ideology castrated me."XX-XY Athletics markets the view that sex-based categories in sports should remain intact, and that only boys should play in boys sports and girls play in girls' sports, regardless of how they identify."Seems the only shirts not allowed in women's professional sports leagues today are ones that stand up for women," wrote XX-XY Athletics in a statement.The Friday incident follows a similar episode at the same stadium in which another group wearing XX-XY apparel was kicked out.In a video post Saturday morning, Kruse explained the group she was with anticipated they may get some vile insults hurled at them from fans, but never expected security to confront them and to be forcibly removed from the stadium.Kruse has been an outspoken advocate for preserving girls' sports and has publicly backed Initiative 638, the ballot measure that would keep biological males out of girl's sports.I-638 is backed by Let's Go Washington. LGW sent a statement Sunday to The Center Square about the incident at Friday's game in Portland."The treatment seen over the weekend for people who want to stand up for girls' rights is unacceptable. All year we have seen supporters, high school athletes, parents, coaches and families be attacked, targeted, harassed, bullied and even sued for standing up for fairness in girls' sports. Enough is enough. If you're tired of seeing people be attacked for saying that girls deserve safe and fair sports, vote yes on I-638 with us," wrote LGW's Hallie Herzberg via email.The Center Square reached out to media relations with the Portland Thorns and Providence Park Stadium to inquire about the incident but did not receive a response before publication.Spectators wearing different messages or engaging in chants were not removed, including a trans activist wearing a shirt that said "Protect Trans Kids" with an image of a large knife.