107 Independent Supporters Trust Timbers Army Blog

Announcing the 2025 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

Darren Lloyd — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 04:00:24 GMT

The votes are in! With 63% of the votes, your 2025 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year is Finn Surman!

Finishing second in this year’s voting was David Ayala, with 11% of the votes. Also receiving significant votes were James Pantemis, Dario Župarić, Diego Chará, and Antony.

About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

Previous Winners

2024: Evander
2023: Cristhian Paredes
2022: Aljaz Ivacic
2021: Dairon Asprilla
2020: Jeremy Ebobisse
2019: Steve Clark
2018: Sebastián Blanco
2017: Diego Valeri
2016: Diego Valeri
2015: Diego Chara
2014: Diego Valeri
2013: Will Johnson
2012: Diego Chara
2011: Troy Perkins

Know Your History - Little Beirut

Sunday White — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 23:38:38 GMT

Welcome to Know Your History.

I am taking a little opportunity to re-post a delightful time capsule that was originally posted in North End Noise (incarnation 2 or 3). This wee time capsule that feels very relevant today.

Enjoy your reading.
_________________________________________________________

Arise, Little Beirut:

"If we're out in the streets, and we have that right in a democracy, we're there to make a point. We're there to be counted, literally." – Tom Hastings -professor of nonviolence and conflict resolution at Portland State University to The Oregonian – 2003

Staring at the people around me in the North End you could see the tension that was building to a point of agitated unrest. I walked down the aisle into the fading sunlight beamed out across pasty faces and untanned arms. Here in the countenance of many that surrounded me on all sides was the rising tide of apprehension that comes with the fear of stepping over the line. No one truly knew what would happen over the next 33 minutes, but we were boldly looking off into the realm of the unknown.

The concession stand boycott eliminated beer for many fans, and yet people were still drunk. Stern expressions abound alongside tight smiles showing the duality of steel purpose and recognized faces. There is no relaxation to be had here. A churning bit of stomach, the gripping of nails, an exorcist burst of noise from behind as the dam must burst and frustrated fans attempt to make this about the team, about them, about anything but fucking silence. The noise comes in waves like a smoldering fire sending up embers that threaten to burn everything down.

Thirty-three minutes of silence.

If you believe in a god, it’s time to pray because it’s 10 minutes in and the absence of what traditionally happens in the stands every home game is more gripping on the nerves than coming down from any kind of stimulant, legal or illegal. There’s plenty of stimulants and depressants in this group, right now. Beer, whiskey, marijuana, caffeine, cocaine, adrenaline… anything to get tuned up, tuned in and fucked off. You could bottle and sell the pure intensity flowing through the collected stands right now to hawkers on Canal Street. In my section there’s probably more prescriptions for Lipitor than lithium. Stone faces, biting lips, crossed arms, loud conversations and nervous laughter, ye gods make this end. The last time the atmosphere at home felt this tense there were security guards trolling for fans to eject, and raving lunatics on the front edge of a cutting atmosphere so doomed that it felt like the sky would fall.

Solidarity in Cascadia. Madness in Little Beirut.

When then Vice-President Dan Quayle visited Portland back in 1990 for a $2,500 a plate fundraiser, Portland wasn’t universally known as a twee city where the youth of the United States would retire to enjoy their handlebar mustaches, doughnuts, beer and coffee bars. People gathered from across the west to Portland like the lost children of old. In his book Fugitives and Refugees, Chuck Palahniuk describes a sea of indigent artists, hippies, half-mad writers, dopers and freak people hell bent on scraping by with whatever weirdness pooled out of them in an inexpensive city. People gathered, roughly 300 in number, to protest the Vice President. This wasn’t the first time that Quayle or other politicians were targeted. There was unrest. There was direct action. Someone shit on a picture of the Vice President. Flags were desecrated.

People of that generation were growing up with the specter of more failed wars and policies. The bastards were up to their same tricks. The Fear was strong with their group and they used it to mess with nearly everyone they could find. Failed coups in Latin and South American countries, illegally selling arms to Iran in order to fund a guerilla war in Nicaragua in order to destabilize the country, using the CIA and roughly 40 billion dollars with Saudi Arabia to fund the Mujahideen in Afghanistan which directly lead to the madness that was Osama Bin Laden.

The US government was working overtime on actively ignoring the Aids crisis, overthrowing the government in Panama and devoting an unending amount of tax dollars to the catastrophically failed War on Drugs (still ongoing). Meanwhile, the first Gulf War was protested in Portland in 1991 by a diverse collection of freaks, peaceniks, Reedies, capable youth, old heads, hippies, anarchists, and agitators who found themselves fighting the same generational battles that their Berkley forbearers did before being crushed under the wheel of modern life. But I’m going off on a tangent here.

During this era of protest and unrest over 28 years ago, a member of the Bush administration dubbed Portland the moniker of Little Beirut. Perhaps it was the presentation of aforementioned suit clad Reedies who, while protesting the Vice President, used ipecac to force out Red, White, and Green vomit after no one told them that the contents of their stomach would turn blue food coloring into green projectile.

Certainly this wasn’t anything new, as when Ronald Reagan came to deliver a speech at the University of Portland in 1984, political activists lined up with coffins and photos of the victims of death squads in El Salvador. This was direct action with angry men and women, commitment on a heavy scale for a heavy world.

Two years ago you could very easily imagine the imminent threat of fascist white supremacists in Portland. In the shoes of Ricky John Best, Taliesin Namkai-Meche and Micah David-Cole Fletcher we all walked. Riding on a max train and seeing the doors close, in the weeks after the attack, there was an eerie sense that it could have been any of them, any of us, at any time. The paranoia that terrorism and racism brings infects the very mundane things you do every day with a new feeling of discomfort. There was a tension to the Rose City, bad psychic energy all around.

These men were everyday people with a diverse background who confronted hate, racism, fascism and white nationalism directly. Ricky John Best and Taliesin Namkai-Meche paid for this stand with their lives. This was two years ago.

These are the times of tiki torch wielding fascist white supremacists. The times of American people screaming, “blood and soil,” and men who openly speak the politics of hate and repression. Make no mistake, these people have always been here. This hate is nothing new, they are just emboldened into showing themselves and attempting to mainstream this culture of hate like it once was.

This is the long festering underbelly of American life that many like to pretend doesn’t exist. Out of the web and onto the streets they come, time and again. In Charlottesville they run down protestors in the streets while being praised by the sitting President as, “Very Fine People.” In Portland they conspire to attack people in the streets and bars. Sometimes they arrive in town the day before their protest, eat Korean fusion food, go to the park the next day to yell racial slurs, paint themselves as victims, and then receive a police escort out of town. In Seattle they seek violent attacks, show up armed to soccer bars and assault people in the street. These are the times of fascist white nationalists and bigots that target places like the Hispanic community of El Paso, the synagogues of Pittsburgh, or the churches of Charleston.

We cannot call ourselves better than this when this is currently our present and our past. There is no guarantee that the future will be better. However, doing absolutely nothing will guarantee that it won’t be better.

All Americans now attend mass events as a matter of protest whether you like that or not. The simple attempt at back to school shopping is now a political statement against people who want to terrorize and inflict psychic pain.

The history of Oregon isn’t easy and it isn’t pretty. However there’s a direct connection to direct action. This is our tradition and we must carry it on. Those in the stadium and those on the streets feel the connection to Little Beirut.

When you do something, anything at all, it will inevitably make someone upset. You eat the wrong doughnut in this town and 5 people will inform you of your wrongness. There isn’t a package that will make your stand acceptable to everyone in the world, much less your random friends on Facebook that you keep around. For some people, there’s never going to be a right way to indicate that you are standing up for your friends and neighbors.

The goal of direct action and confrontation is to make things difficult and to finally have THAT conversation, even if that conversation is uncomfortable. Protest is not about making everyone on all sides feel better, and it is not about patterning yourself and your life in a palatable way for people who refuse to understand why you simply won’t just follow the rules and behave appropriately. The fact that silence itself could be considered so egregious shows the ability of the voiceless to be counted.

To be counted is, in itself, something that soccer supporters know all too well. We show up to games bedecked in team clothes with flags, banners and songs and the knowledge that we literally can do nothing on the field to change what will happen.

We don’t show up because we think that somehow we will be pulled from the stands to play. We show up because we love the game. We show up to be counted among the faithful and to bear witness to the events in front of us. We show up to be there in person and to sing, to chant, to boo and cheer. We show up to be with our friends and family even though they were strangers some time ago. Sometimes, even, we show up to be silent. In silence we are still counted and we show our faith to our team, friends, loved ones and the strangers that form our neighborhoods.

Speaking to people within the community you begin to understand that this action isn’t just about a ban on a symbol. It’s more about an idea. Within this idea lives the thought that soccer supporters don’t just exist to consume, attend, cheer, leave on schedule and play by the rules; but rather that we exist to fight for each other, to live for each other, to support both the team and the town.

The league and team cracking down on this symbol is them cracking down on the very identity of standing for the players on the field and the community in which we live. We show that we are against racism and white supremacists not just when it affects us but when it affects the players on our team or the people we do not know. When the Flores family is directly impacted by racism on the streets of Portland we know that sports and life and the communities we support are all connected. We know that soccer is a mirror that shows the life we live in our communities every day.

When you understand that idea, you will understand that it isn’t just about the Iron Front, but about the idea of fighting back against an attempt by the league and the Timbers own front office to censor fans and sanitize the support that they sold to advertisers and other fans.

Flying the Iron Front is a rejection of racism, fascism and white supremacy. Flying the Iron Front is the sign of the rejection of the policies of hate. It is a sign of inclusion and acceptance of the other in our midst. This is welcoming not only your neighbor but the 18 year old player from Argentina who is coming to a new place and a new life. This is telling the 28 year old soccer player from El Salvador and the 12 year old refugee from Somalia that we reject the ideology currently sputtering in this region and country that says they do not belong.

Standing silent, together, in the cooling evening we can show our strength by not giving the performance that the league so desperately wants. We stop so the league and front office can’t package our singing and dancing into clips that border on trained performances. It is a reminder of strength, of unity, of solidarity.

Now there is a minute left until we hit the rocket ship, blast off and head to the edge of the Milky Way.

Now there is a minute left until we all step over that line into the unknown.

It’s finally time to prepare after what seemed like an inexorable wait.

Suddenly, we are nearly there.

The time on the clock, moving ever slower towards 33 minutes, ticks onward with only 20 seconds to go.

Counting internally, it is impossible to not acknowledge the time.

10….. 9….. 8…..

Hundreds of green clad people in the stands are counting out loud. People are looking around at their loved ones, strangers, enemies and friends; and honestly there isn’t one person that knows what is going to happen after this ticking bomb of stress, angst, anger and aggression is finally let loose. Nerves, already exposed due to past weeks of rancor, persistent games and events, are now completely shredded. Fans ready themselves by clutching flags and displays as the white noise of nervous chatter starts to grow in intensity.

Now is the time when we hold fast. When the moment arrives with a clock strike and one era is going to end while another will begin.

Drummers pick up mallets and sticks, fans ready their voices, people stand up on chairs and look around wide eyed in The Moment with absolute pure anticipation pulsating through their veins. Just before the chaos it seems like a collective inhale happens.

And then, together, we step across the line into the unknown.

Arise, Little Beirut

“Fools Rush In”, Trying Something a Little Different [Take Two]

Sunday White — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

This post brought to you by the TA Capos / DnT:

Note -
This blog was originally posted by our capos back in May before being taken down for more discussion and consideration of our traditions and history.

The Timbers Army capos and drums/trumpets have put a lot of thought into how to best satisfy an ever-evolving supporters section while still honoring the tradition of a song that means so much to so many. We believe now is the time for change and hope everyone will join us and profess their love of the club at the beginning of the match, freeing up the end of the match for more upbeat and energetic chants to power our boys to victory.

Original post:
“Fools Rush In”, Trying Something a Little Different

Trying something new can be hard, especially when there's years of history built up around a tradition. How can we best move forward while still honoring our past? "Fools Rush In" (Wise Men) has been a staple of the Timbers Army for years, it's been sung by generations of Timbers fans, through multiple leagues, to hundreds of players that have worn the green and gold. It’s a song that's been covered by many local bands, its lyrics tattooed on Timbers Army members, and even been used as the first dance at TA weddings. The biggest criticism of "Wise Men" as a chant has always been its timing, late in the match, and in close proximity to another historic club ballad in "You Are My Sunshine".

Moving forward, we'd like to cement "Wise Men" as a club anthem among the likes of "You'll Never Walk Alone" at Liverpool/St Pauli/Celtic, "Mull of Kintyre" at Nottingham Forest, "Marching On Together" at Leeds, "Roma Roma" at AS Roma, "Always Forward" at Bayern Munich, and well... you get the point. Most football clubs worldwide have a club anthem sung during the walkout, just prior to kickoff, or right at the opening whistle.

The stadium-wide "PTFC" chant will still echo throughout the players tunnel as teams prepare to enter our historic Multnomah Civic Stadium. The famous Timbers samba will still get the party started immediately following the National Anthem. "Wise Men" will now be sung as the first chant of the match.

Please join in, FULL VOICE and with SCARVES UP to let the visiting supporters, our beloved city of Portland, and most of all the boys in green and gold, know exactly who's got your heart (and your whole life, too).

Announcing the 2024 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

Darren Lloyd — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 01:10:17 GMT

The votes are in and it’s not even close. With 50.70% of the votes, your 2024 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year is Evander! Your move, MLS.

Finishing second in this year’s voting was James Pantemis, with 7.96% of the votes. Also receiving significant votes were Felipe Mora, David Ayala, Jona Rodriguez, Diego Chara, Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw, and Dairon Asprilla.

About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

Previous Winners

2023: Cristhian Paredes

2022: Aljaz Ivacic

2021: Dairon Asprilla

2020: Jeremy Ebobisse

2019: Steve Clark

2018: Sebastián Blanco

2017: Diego Valeri

2016: Diego Valeri

2015: Diego Chara

2014: Diego Valeri

2013: Will Johnson

2012: Diego Chara

2011: Troy Perkins

The U.S. Open Cup Matters … and You Should Care

Jennifer Ingraham — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:11:02 GMT

by Bruce Eaton and Shawn Levy

The U.S. Open Cup is a vital piece of soccer’s history in this country. It’s been around since 1913, when it debuted as the National Challenge Cup, and it is the oldest ongoing national title in American soccer — the nearest thing we have to the FA Cup, the Copa del Rey, the Coppa Italia, and other such venerated championships.

The Open Cup is a true open cup — every team, from a Sunday league 11 to the highest professional squad, is eligible to play in it. Because of that small-d democratic nature, it has long been a way for small soccer communities to make their presence known on a national stage. When there was no nationwide soccer league in this country, the Cup kept the game alive. When immigrants from places with long soccer histories came to America, the Cup was their doorway into meaningful competition in the world’s game. The ragtag history of American soccer and the American story is deeply ingrained in the Cup. How can you not love a championship that’s been won by the likes of Macabee Los Angeles, Brooklyn Hispano, Philadelphia Ukrainians, San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, and Shawsheen Indians, not to mention Bethlehem Steel?

Since the mid-’90s, the Cup has been won almost always by an MLS side (the old NASL never took part in the tournament — and look what happened to it!). And since 2001, a summertime cup run has been a part of being a Portland Timbers fan — and often provided the most memorable highlights of some dismal seasons.

Until now, that is.

The poobahs of MLS have decided to put only eight of the league’s teams in the tournament. The Portland Timbers are not included.

That sucks.

And here’s why.

WE were once one of those little teams for which an Open Cup run was a (potential) ticket to the big time. WE were the minnows. And, quite often, a Cup run was our only chance to win anything in the long hot summer of a minor league season.

During the Timbers’ USL/A-League era, the U.S Open Cup matches were a highlight of the year’s escapades at PGE Park.

In 2004, a growing, boisterous, and artistic Timbers Army mocked Landon Donovan as his San Jose Earthquakes dominated the Timbers 3-0 in front of a crowd of 10,000-plus. Timbers centerback Gavin Wilkinson, in familiar form, received a red card in the seventeenth minute. (GW Out indeed! Rumor has it that he stole a pint from a table in the old beer garden on his way to the dressing room: Typical.) Nevertheless, the match was a very early indication to the soccer world that Portland fans were wildly dedicated to the boys in green. Despite the beating, the north end noise never dwindled, even impressing Donovan, who said afterward, “I don’t know many teams that, when you go down two or three nothing, the fans are still cheering like that.” From that point on, people knew that something special was going on in Portland.

A few years later, Portland fans had a taste of infamy, when a semipro USASA team, Hollywood United, upset the Timbers 3-2. It was kind of sickening to see a pretty good USL team lose at home to such a low-level opponent, regardless of the number of ex-pros on their roster and Hollywood B-list stars in their ownership ranks. But such embarrassment is part of the appeal of Cup: You can never take a minnow for granted.

That lesson was etched permanently into Timbers history in 2012 with the infamous 1-0 loss in extra time to Eric Wynalda’s Cal FC, another amateur roster of former MLS and USL players put together solely to make a run at the Cup. They did, at our expense. A missed Kris Boyd penalty kick that knocked over beers in section 108. A bloodied captain Jack Jewsbury. Curses from the capo stand (Ah, Pong!). And, after the fact, added drama with Wynalda accusing Merritt Paulson of failing to fulfill a promised revenue share with his team, the first spark of a social media feud that still burns today. (Ah, Olde Twitter!)

These stories illustrate the wonderful concept of the underdog in the Open Cup. It’s what elimination tournaments thrive on: The opportunity. The chance to show what you’ve got, who you are, and who’s with you for the ride.

We had some glorious moments in the Cup, too. An Open Cup match against Seattle in 2009 inspired our first big tifo — Timber Jim cutting town the Space Needle. And there was the unforgettable Red Card Wedding in 2015: The epic meltdown when Seattle ended the match defeated 3-1, with seven men on the pitch, no head coach on the bench, a humiliated and disgraced Clint Dempsey, and a bill for the referee’s shredded notebook.

These stories illustrate why the tournament resonates. It’s all right there, in front of you, as it happens. There’s only another game if you get through this one. It creates moments. It creates memories. It is filled with traps for big teams and David-vs.-Goliath chances for little ones. The regular season of MLS doesn’t have that. The league is built to favor brand-name stars in big cities, not to grow the game at the grassroots. And MLS prefers its own jury-rigged tournaments to the one that can truly show the rest of the world that American soccer is and always has been for real.

Here’s the thing: MLS doesn’t run the the Open Cup; U. S. Soccer does. If MLS ran the cup, they’d turn it into another aspect of their quest for dollars and easy fame. (Remember when they tried to grab the Cascadia Cup and slap a brand on it?) They’d only be interested in the Cup if they could monetize it, without regard for its history of keeping soccer alive and spreading it around the USA. What they’re building is top-heavy: a reality show starring old faces from bigger leagues with no personal connection to the communities they play in or interest in growing the game at the lower levels. The unpredictable Open Cup looks like a nuisance to folks with that mentality.

Given MLS’s convoluted salary machinations, Ponzi-scheme expansion, and partnership with Apple in a broadcast monopoly, it’s no wonder the league wants out of a tournament that they can’t control. It’s just not in their DNA to be a good, cooperative partner, even though it’s obvious that U. S. soccer would benefit greatly from a mature, enlightened top league and a Cup that gives underdogs a puncher’s chance against the big boys.

This year is pretty much over as far as seeing the Timbers in the Cup. So what can we people who recognize the value and history of the Cup do?

We can continue to support our boys, if not our first team: T2 is in the Cup this year, and you should watch its matches when and where you can. You can contact the Timbers’ front office and MLS and demand that they expand their participation in the Cup. And you can send a tweet to Eric Wynalda, to let him know that you understand what a broken promise feels like.

Why We Play

Darren Lloyd — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 17:30:00 GMT

With contributions from Shawn Levy.

You may not know Benson Drapiza’s name, and you may not know his face (though if you saw it, it’s likely you’d remember). But if you’ve attended Timbers matches in the past 15 or so years, going back to the minor league days, then you’ve danced and sung and celebrated and commiserated to Benson’s beat.

Benson was a senior member of the TA’s Drums-N-Trumpets corp, the pilot of El Diablo, one of the two big drums that rock the stadium from the top of section 106. And we lost him, suddenly and surprisingly, in January. On Saturday night, after the match, we will mark his passing – and, even more, his longtime presence among us – with a ceremony in the North End.

The North End is family, a family of choice, a family we count ourselves among for many and varied reasons. These connections transcend merely being sports fans — at weddings, births, baptisms, and in times of trouble, we show up for one another and truly embody the Trinity of Team, Town, and Timbers Army.

So when we lose a member of our family, there is an unfillable hole in the tapestry of The North End. Nowhere is that void more dark and raw today than in the heartbeat of the Timbers Army, the DnT, the family-within-a-family that Benson chose and loved and loved him back hugely in return.

It wasn’t only at Timbers matches that Benson kept the heartbeat pounding. You knew his beats as he spun tracks at the Holiday Party and other TA events. He was a huge personality who seemingly knew everyone forever, even those he’d just met.

At matches, he was the life of the party, which is saying something – wearing sunglasses and a trucker hat, making goofy faces, punctuating chant verses with a hearty “WOOOOOO!”, driving the tempo faster and faster, and no doubt talking shit without missing a beat. For Benson, sleeves were always optional, and when the Timbers came from behind in some sort of incredible comeback, so was his shirt. Maybe his shorts, too. You never knew what would come next with that guy.

And his merrymaking went on outside the park. He was a DJ and a festival follower. He was a snowboarder and river rat. He was famed for a massive wardrobe of sneakers and astounding outfits – onesies, capes, track suits, sports jerseys. He was an LED artist. He sported a billboard of tattoos. He got around town on a onewheel. He was as big a Blazers fan as he was a Timbers fan (if there were a Blazers DnT, he would’ve been right in the middle of it). He was born on July 4, which he celebrated every year as Bendependence Day with a massive party. He came from Tennessee, called Oregon his home, had a day job involving (and this may be the most remarkable thing about him) financial analysis, and leaves behind many, many, many broken hearts: A celebration of his life earlier this month was literally standing room only.

Benson’s contributions to Our Thing were massive and can’t be replicated, merely honored, and his legacy serves as a reminder of how special The North End and the Timbers Army are.

Saturday, after the final whistle and the log ceremony, please stay and join the DnT, Benson’s family, and the Timbers in honoring his memory. Below you can find the video that played on February 24 after the match.

You can watch the memorial video here.

Many have inquired as to how they might contribute to defray the costs associated with Benson's passing. If you are willing and able, you can donate to the GoFundMe here.

TASC and Front Office meeting

107ist Admin — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 01:11:53 GMT

On Thursday, November 9, the Front Office hosted members of the Timbers Army Steering Committee, Game Day Operations and the 107IST board in a neutral setting to meet with Heather Davis, CEO of the Portland Timbers and Thorns, Ned Grabavoy, GM of the Portland Timbers, and Phil Neville, the newly named Timbers head coach. This meeting was an opportunity to meet Phil, and ask questions to Heather and Ned. The format was Q&A, and after Phil departed early (to catch a flight), there was time to have more-personal conversations in smaller groups.

The Q&A was respectful but pointed: We made plain that the hire was tone-deaf, pressed on changes within the Front Office and asked about plans to re-engage supporters who’ve walked away from the clubs. We wanted Heather, Ned and Phil to hear from us that we want the club to show up for supporters, the city, and the broader community. We questioned Phil on his intentions to work with T2 and the Academy, what “engaging with supporters” looks like, and how he and Ned plan to build up a scouting team to recruit quality players as more clubs and high-profile players join the league.

We’ve been down this road before with the Front Office, and we know there will be continued challenges before things get better. We are approaching our conversations with them with transparency, respect and direct communication because, at the end of the day, we are RCTID, and we will be here long after they have moved on.

Announcing the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

Darren Lloyd — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:00:04 GMT

The votes are in! With 20.10% of the votes, your 2023 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year is Cristhian Paredes!

Finishing second in this year’s voting was Zac McGraw, with 15.05% of the votes. Also receiving votes were Diego Chara, Dario Zuparic, Felipe Mora, Evander, Dairon Asprilla, Santiago Moreno, Claudio Bravo, David Bingham, and Sebastián Blanco.

About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

Previous Winners

2022: Aljaz Ivacic
2021: Dairon Asprilla
2020: Jeremy Ebobisse
2019: Steve Clark
2018: Sebastián Blanco
2017: Diego Valeri
2016: Diego Valeri
2015: Diego Chara
2014: Diego Valeri
2013: Will Johnson
2012: Diego Chara
2011: Troy Perkins

With gratitude: A defense of the TA tifo

107ist Admin — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:36:16 GMT

The following is a post by Nash Drake.

I was floored by the tifo on Pride night. I looked at the display and the rail banner and thought to myself, “Perfect. No notes. 12/10.”

The trans community is in crisis. We’re there for a number of reasons, and none of them have to do with anything we have done. We aren’t groomers, pedos, or rapists. We aren’t imps, devils, or monsters. We are actually a community of people who just want to live their lives with some dignity, respect, and access to all of the same things as everyone else, such as medical care and public restrooms.

In 2023 alone (that’s only six months, folks), more than 300 pieces of legislation that specifically target the trans community have been introduced. We are the number one wedge issue, and our lives have been relentlessly picked apart and scrutinized by mainstream media, legislators, and the general public. The rhetoric surrounding us is increasingly suggesting that we are a menace to society and must be eradicated. (Yes, the word "eradicate" has been used.)

This is happening right now — today — while you are reading this, and one of the biggest issues is that we aren’t getting coverage of it in mainstream media. If this tifo spurs the conversation about what is happening: excellent. We need folks to wake up and listen to what we’ve been trying to tell everyone for years: They are trying to eliminate us. It’s real. It’s happening.

Major companies and organizations are abandoning us, as was predictable, when they get pushback from the far right. Over and over again we have been let down by people we thought were our allies or had hoped would show up when the time came. That time is now and the majority have simply walked away.

Enter the TA with this tifo. Lord have mercy, there are an awful lot of cisgendered people with some OPINIONS. I’ve also seen some trans folks’ opinions, and while I disagree on some points, I have nothing to say to y’all about your feelings other than I am deeply sorry you are hurting. I wish this could be perfect for everyone. I really do.

That tifo was, in my trans opinion, a multi-faceted work of resistance and allyship. It took a direct quote from one of the most high-profile and prolific transphobes on the planet and threw it right back in her face. The crest included both the trans flag and the non-binary flag. That’s an important distinction because non-binary folks are so often lost in the discourse by cis and trans people alike and need to be focused on. Then there was the addition of Tetris and the sunflower. Both of those symbols carry their own connotations, but Tetris is for closers, yes? And the sunflower for Jim and his call for spreading the love. That crest represents the TA and their trans members in unity to me. I feel it is clearly supportive of trans and NB people and will translate well to a world-wide stage. It is recognizable to the masses while also speaking directly to the trans and NB TA population. Perfect.

When taken with the rail banner — which is even more clear in saying that transphobes are not welcome in the stadium — it takes on another dimension. That banner was in every panned shot on the broadcast. Very large letters with a simple message that also let terfs know that they are known and not welcome. The exposure is priceless and the message is very clear. Front and center.

The head boss transphobe is very much online and so are her followers. She is supported endlessly by the UK media, and her messages of hate have emboldened transphobia in the US to a shocking degree. The TA, in my opinion, didn’t do this to just have a fun dunk on her. They were saying, “We don’t care who you are. We don’t tolerate that kind of crap here and fuck you. If you come here, you will get the fight of your life. And we don’t care who knows it.” They painted a gigantic target on their backs. That a group of mainly cisgender folks decided to put themselves in the way of what is surely going to be a constant stream of harassment to stand up for trans people is not something I am upset about — it’s something that I am grateful for.

I would offer up this observation on the rush of criticism coming from cisgendered people who don’t have a stake in this:

It seems to me that a lot of people are “uncomfortable.” What is causing that discomfort? Do you honestly think that the TA was platforming her? Or have you not yet dealt with your feelings about having a beloved childhood author turn out to be a terrible human being? Because what I’m seeing is quite a few people who have a lot of feelings about something that has nothing to do with the trans people that it was made for. And folks who really think that they are allies to the trans community are saying not a thing about what is happening to trans people, not asking how trans people feel about the display, and ending their thoughts with things like, “not saying it’s a bad message, but it doesn’t hit the mark for me.”

It wasn’t made for you. Trans people don’t need to care about your feelings about it. In fact, we would all like it if you would please care about what is happening to trans people as much as you care about complaining about this tifo, because for a not small amount of you, it’s the first and only thing you’ve publicly said about it … ever.

To the TA — and particularly the trans woman who designed the entire thing: Thank you. You did a fantastic job of welcoming the trans community, standing up to a famous bigot, and hopefully making a ton of cisgendered people stop and think about what they are actually doing in this fight. I fight with you and for you.

Ivačič Kit & Gloves Grand Total!

Darren Lloyd — Mon, 08 May 2023 00:02:53 GMT

On behalf of the Timbers Army Steering Committee, thank you to everyone who entered the raffle of Aljaz Ivačič’s kit and gloves. $1405 was raised in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the match between Atticus and the Green Machine! A generous anonymous donation brings the grand total to $1500, all of which will be donated to Make-A-Wish Oregon. Congratulations to our winners!

Miss out on the raffle but still want to contribute? You can donate to Make-A-Wish Oregon here.

2023 Home Opener Update from the Timbers Army Tifo Committee

107ist Admin — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 22:35:07 GMT

Out of an abundance of caution, the Timbers Army Tifo Committee is moving the home opener tifo to March 11 for the Portland Timbers home match against St. Louis City SC.

As announced by Major League Soccer, the Timbers home opener match, originally scheduled against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, February 25, was rescheduled for Monday, February 27.

Our all-volunteer rigging and tifo teams are often able to pivot with short notice, but based on the current weather predictions and availability for Monday, February 27, we are pushing out the deployment of the tifo that was intended to displayed at the home opener to what is scheduled to be the second home match of the season.

We haven’t had a “normal” year in a while, so let’s keep it weird and do things a little differently this year, too.

The weekly 107IST email to members asked people to bring streamers in different shades of blue and white to throw during the unveiling of the tifo. We kindly ask that you bring those to the match against St. Louis on March 11.

We are still collecting socks for our Match Day Drive on Monday! Donate some socks, and be entered to win a Tetris scarf! Read more here!

Cascadia supporters groups announce 2023 Cascadia Cup rules, call for balanced schedule

107ist Admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:20:24 GMT


Emerald City Supporters	Timbers Army	Vancouver Southsiders

[Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Vancouver, BC; December 27, 2022]

The supporters groups from the three Cascadia MLS clubs have agreed on rules for the Cascadia Cup after MLS announced an unbalanced schedule in 2023.

The Emerald City Supporters, Vancouver Southsiders and Timbers Army have agreed that all matches will count towards the Cascadia Cup, even though the new unbalanced MLS schedule means each team will play a different number of home games against their Cascadia rivals this season.

“We all agreed that we are going to count every match. This format will be one that all supporters will find easiest to follow,” says Fernando Machicado, Timbers Army spokesperson.

Portland Timbers will host both Vancouver Whitecaps twice and Seattle Sounders once, Vancouver will see Portland once and Seattle twice at home, and Seattle will host Portland twice and Vancouver once. Despite the imbalance, the three supporters groups agreed to count all matches equally in order to keep the 2023 Cascadia Cup format simple.

“Ultimately, the Cascadia Cup is by the supporters, for the supporters, and we realized this was the best decision for the 2023 season,” says Tom Biro, co-president, Emerald City Supporters. “While we can appreciate MLS needing to make different scheduling decisions due to expansion, it’s pretty obvious the league recognizes where to generate the most attention each season.”

The Cascadia Cup will be awarded to the team with the most points after all matches have been played or when there is a clear winner. In the event of a tie, the Cup will be awarded to the team with the best goal difference. Should the MLS schedule remain unbalanced in 2024, the Emerald City Supporters, Vancouver Southsiders and Timbers Army insist that it should allow for a balanced distribution of the home and away matches amongst the Cascadia clubs.

“Scheduling all Cascadia Cup matches to be played on a Saturday is a positive adjustment” says Peter Czimmermann, president of the Vancouver Southsiders. “It is imperative that traveling to rivalry games is as accessible as possible for all supporters”

Background:

The Cascadia Cup was created in 2004 by supporters groups of the three Cascadia teams, and is awarded annually to the best team in the Cascadia region. Seattle has won it seven times, and Vancouver has won it six times, and current Cascadia Cup holder Portland has won it five times.

2023 Cascadia Cup schedule:

With the unbalanced 2023 MLS schedule, each team has 3 home and 3 away matches, two home games and one away against one Cascadia Cup rival and one home/two away against the other:

April 8: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Portland Timbers
April 15: Portland Timbers v. Seattle Sounders
May 13: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
May 20: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
June 3: Seattle Sounders v. Portland Timbers
July 8: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
August 26: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
September 2: Seattle Sounders v. Portland Timbers
October 7: Seattle Sounders v. Vancouver Whitecaps

(Home team is listed first)

Full Cascadia Cup criteria:

Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned
Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned
Greater number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned
Reapply first three criteria if two or more teams are still tied
Greater goal difference in all cup matches
Greater number of goals scored in all cup matches
Smaller number of disciplinary points in all cup matches (yellow = 1 point, red = 2 points)

About the Cascadia Cup Council
The Cascadia Cup Council is a recognized not-for-profit entrusted with the management of the Cascadia Cup. The Council is made up of one representative from each of the three founding Cascadia Cup supporters groups, the Emerald City Supporters, Timbers Army, and Vancouver Southsiders.

Announcing the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

Darren Lloyd — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 21:23:52 GMT

The votes are in! With 30% of the votes, your 2022 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year is Aljaz Ivacic!

Finishing second in this year’s voting was Bill Tuiloma, with 23% of the votes. Also receiving votes were Santiago Moreno, Dairon Asprilla, Claudio Bravo, Diego Chará, Eryk Williamson, Sebastián Blanco, Zac McGraw, Yimmi Chará, Dario Zuparic, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Julian Bravo, George Fochive, Victor Griffith, Larrys Mabiala, Felipe Mora, Juan David Mosquera, Hunter Sulte, and Josecarlos Van Rankin.

About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

Previous Winners

2021: Dairon Asprilla
2020: Jeremy Ebobisse
2019: Steve Clark
2018: Sebastián Blanco
2017: Diego Valeri
2016: Diego Valeri
2015: Diego Chara
2014: Diego Valeri
2013: Will Johnson
2012: Diego Chara
2011: Troy Perkins

2022 Timbers Army Supporters' Player of the Year Voting is Open

Darren Lloyd — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 13:00:39 GMT

Hard to believe, but we're already at the point of the season where it's time to place your votes for the 2022 TA SPOTY! Voting runs through Wednesday, September 28 and the winner will be presented with their championship belt after the last regular-season home match on October 2. Vote now! To see past winners, visit this page.

Guest Post: Stay In Inquiry

Kristen Gehrke — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:43:51 GMT

The following is a guest post from Sam Prince, 107IST, TA, and Riveters volunteer.

I moved to Portland not for the soccer, but for my dream job. Opal School, a then flourishing charter attached to the Portland Children’s Museum was, at that point, one of the most progressive schools in the country. The teachers at Opal were brave, entering the school year without a set curriculum in mind, following the children where they wanted to go.

I was less three years into my career as a teacher, still a baby by the standards of that particular field. There were a lot of moments when I was incredibly frustrated. A child acted in a way I did not expect. A lesson bombed. A colleague gave hard feedback. In those moments what I wanted to do was to lash out or tune out. I wanted to react, to end the interaction or get space, I wanted to be heard and then for the moment to be over.

During a meeting with a mentor, she revealed a concept that, though incredibly simple, changed my whole outlook. She asked to ask questions when I was feeling dissonance.

“What makes you say that?”

“What does this bring up for you?”

“Can you explain to me how you got to that point?”

Very often the act of reflection in the moment, of staying in the moment, allows there to be more nuance than we thought there could be. Asking questions takes this tiny, loud instant and allows us to examine its nooks and crannies. Very often the extremes of feeling made so much more sense.

The last day, and really the whole season, have been spaces of massive emotional shifts. We’ve interrogated the players, the club, each other. We’ve tackled massive issues that transcend sport and go into organizational policies and personal values. Both clubs have had massive wins and devastating losses, but if I’m honest it seems inconsequential to what is taking place off the pitch.

I’m begging you to stay in inquiry here.

When there’s big news and someone or something is not what you expect it to be, please ask questions before jumping to conclusions. If something seems out of character for an org you’ve known, or even been a part of, wonder why. Silence is sometimes people trying to figure out what to say, and making sure they say the right thing. It isn’t complicity or an admission of guilt.

We have to have each other’s back; we have to believe the best in each other as supporters.

There are folks out there who would love to subdivide us now. The more scattered we are, the more segmented, the easier it is to ignore us. The more unified we are the more powerful we become.

Today is a game day and the Cascadia Cup may come home. I cannot wait to be in the stadium with you. Let’s be loud, let’s be heard.

About tonight's Cascadia Cup match

107ist Admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 17:25:39 GMT

The following is a message from the Timbers Army Steering Committee.

Seattle’s Emerald City Supporters (ECS) published a blog post on 8/25/22 admonishing the Timbers Front Office for multiple missteps in their handling of sexual assault and domestic violence allegations involving players and coaching staff. The post also mentioned that ECS reached out to the Timbers Army about coordinating an in-stadium action during the match.

The steering committee felt that a shared action or protest at this time would be viewed as an escalation and damage conversations between the 107IST board and Front Office, distract from the progress the board and Front Office are making on last fall’s list of demands, as well as detract from our support of the players. We responded to ECS on 8/17 stating, "GDO says sincere thanks for the offer but are not ready for a massive coordinated protest at this time (though there will be plenty of protest in the stands and you are welcome to do the same at whatever level you’re comfortable with). We are also very interested in collaboration around healthcare in the long-term."

The Timbers Army appreciates a diversity of tactics to drive change and are grateful that ECS reached out to us to discuss this matter. We continue to discuss our options with all supporters groups while also supporting the efforts of 107IST to continue our push for accountability and transparency from the Timbers and Thorns Front Office.

Pyro? No Party

107ist Admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 18:29:34 GMT

On July 9, 2022, individuals in the Timbers Army supporters section at the Seattle Sounders v Portland Timbers match deployed smoke bombs inside and outside of Lumen Field, a violation of stadium policies.

These actions are also a direct violation of the 107IST Away Code of Conduct, which governs conduct in our away sections and to which individuals agree to abide by when they purchase tickets through the 107IST.

Unfortunately, these incidents may cause sanctions to be imposed against the Timbers Army as a whole by Seattle Sounders FC. Sanctions could include the prohibition of banners, flags, tifo, and drums for an as-yet unspecified amount of time.

The Timbers Army Steering Committee, 107IST Board of Directors, and Away Travel Team have been and will continue to be in conversation with the Timbers Front Office about this matter. In the meantime, the Sounders Front Office, Lumen Field management, and the City of Seattle are reviewing footage of the incidents.

We invite those involved in deploying smoke to reach out to awaytravel@107ist.org to help preserve the away game day experience that we and our players have come to love.

2022 Home Opener Tifo Update

107ist Admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:37:01 GMT

In light of the recent allegations against a former Portland Timbers player, we have decided to reallocate money that would have been spent for our 2022 home opener tifo display to organizations that support individuals experiencing domestic violence.

$2,500 will be donated to Call to Safety to help support individuals experiencing domestic violence.

$2,500 will be donated to Rose Haven to help support individuals facing an intersection of issues including homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence.

If you can, please consider joining us by making an individual donation to these organizations or a similar organization in your local area.

For more information or to donate directly, please visit www.calltosafety.org or www.rosehaven.org

Thank you, the Timbers Army Steering Committee

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE:

Oregon Call to Safety Line (888) 235-5333

National Domestic Violence Help Line (800) 799-SAFE

Is this our heritage?

107ist Admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 00:15:57 GMT

The following is a post from Fernando Machicado.

I’ve been a season ticket holder for over 15 years, and I have gone through many changes with the Timbers front office. Other supporters and I have suffered through terrible owners, managers, and players. Some of these things are normal in the lifecycle of being a supporter.

What we have witnessed in the past three years, however, is not normal. It is heartbreaking. These are events that should not happen. The managers and owners of the Timbers/Thorns are supposed to protect players and their community. Everything that has come to light shows that the management has failed in every aspect of this — and failed so far that their responses seemed filled with nothing but arrogance and greed.

I ask myself:
At what point do we stop supporting them?
Do I cancel my season tickets?
Do I stop going to matches?
How I still show support to the players and the badge?

Instead of celebrating trophies for the Thorns and the Timbers MLS cup appearances, we again have to hold our FO accountable. We are struggling with how to continue to witness the failures of the organization.

The Riveters and the Timbers Army have long been excellent stewards of the community that supports the team, and each person should be able to support on how they feel; to do what is right for them.

Speaking for me, I am going to go to matches. I am going to show my distaste in their actions. I will confront them in our church, the grounds that all of us built. I am not going to let them take that from me. I am going to hold them accountable as much as I can. I am going to support my fellow supporters any way I can and help the organizations do the right things in our community.

At the same time, I respect everyone else’s process on how to deal with this, and I hope that we can all come to the same conclusion.

The only answer right now is for the management to fire the top of their leadership and sell the team.

What we built can never be broken

Kristen Gehrke — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 04:20:33 GMT

My brothers and sisters, welcome, the moment is here.

The Portland Timbers play for the cup at home.

Across the years we’ve entered into the stadium to watch our team play many games.

We’ve stood upon seats with our hearts in our mouth watching the Timbers rise against our hated rivals and fall to amateurs. We’ve played taps, travelled in numbers, yelled in shock at televisions, ridden buses and airplanes and sung, “we’re gonna win the league.”

There has never been a home game as meaningful as this one that is right in front of us.

This is a fanbase that spans the globe, that unites every fan through a common bond that is the love of the Timbers. However, this is a fanbase that comes from a place.

We come from Portland.

This is our home.

And this place is not easy.

We’ve suffered through a global pandemic, deaths in our family, violence in the streets, right wing extremists, police brutality, and a surge of politically driven attempts to cast this beautiful place where we live as the embodiment of everything that is wrong.

This place is rainy, gloomy, moody, and expensive. This place is beautiful, subtle, caring and passionate.

We, the fans, are all these things because we are Portland.

When the gates open and the stands fill, it will be packed with Portlanders. Some of those were born here. Some of those moved here. And some of those people in the stands grew to love the city because they watched from afar as we poured ourselves into every single kick, every tackle, every simple measure and tactical shift that happens for 90 minutes.

We’ve seen legends roam our fields from Clive Charles to Scot Thompson to Diego Chara to Diego Valeri. We’ve watched the best in our league come to our corner of the world and falter as they attempt to understand.

We’ve bonded over pain, failure, disaster, olives and Spiced IPA. We’ve seen the miraculous, the daring, and the unbelievable.

27 Seconds

The Double Post

The Sunshine Goal

The Sunflower Goal

Cal FC

The Andrew Jean-Baptiste Stunner

Suzuki against Seattle

Hollywood United

Dairon’s Bicycle

Nagbe’s Juggle

Valeri’s Letter

The Red Card Wedding

Olimpia 2014

Agnellllllllo

Tony Betts golden goal

Nemo, Nemo drag him off the pitch

There are so many that they begin to get lost among the years.

The thing that ties all of these moments together is us.

We are the thing that remains. We watch, we endure, we celebrate, we commiserate but we remain.

We are Portland.

We gather not just for sports, but for a celebration of this city, this team, this time in our history.

There is no 2021 game left after Saturday. We’ve come to the end of the season.

Nothing remains for us but to let loose every bit of ourselves, our love, and our passion for the boys of the field.

When you step into the stands on Saturday, understand that you bear the weight of responsibility for carrying forward the support, love and belief of every Timbers fan who cannot make it to this game. Understand that for every person who was able to buy a ticket there is another who would do nearly anything to be where you are right then.

Take this belief, this love and let it lift your voice. Let it fuel your belief in the boys, let it fuel your love for each other and let it bring us home from this incredible voyage.

And for me, please, when you reach your seat on gameday stop for one moment.

I want you to look at the stadium, the rain, the rafters, the seats.

Look at the fans, the players, the banners, the flags, and absorb it all. Hear the ghosts singing our songs, chanting, dancing and believing in PTFC across the decades.

Create a memory of this moment and hold onto it.

Then, let this memory go and with furious abandon give every last measure that you have for this team.

Together we can make another memory in our long history. Together we can make them believe.

Together we can show the 11 on the field, the substitutes, the coaching staff, and all the future players who ever think of coming here that we will be there for them.

We are Portland.

What we built can never be broken.

-- John Nyen

It Takes an Army

107ist Admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 06:24:25 GMT

Even before the final whistle blew in the Western Conference Final on Saturday and the celebrations began, the planning started. Before Tetris was over, preparations for a historic event — the first ever MLS Cup Final in Portland! — were well underway: Do we host an MLS Cup Eve party? Do we host a postgame bash? Where? How? What do we need? Volunteers were already hard at work, contacting venues, acquiring kegs, clearing their calendar to be boots on the ground and ready to tackle any task. We’re ready to show off the joy that is Soccer City, USA.

None of the spectacle of gameday happens out of the blue. It’s hundreds of dedicated volunteers spending thousands of people hours tracing and painting banners in a cold warehouse. It’s dozens of volunteers willing to endure the Sisyphean task of carrying flags and drums down the stairs of Providence Park (and carry them back up the beer-soaked steps later). It’s 50 people to pull on ropes and deploy a tifo — and then make it all disappear during the match. It’s people regularly giving up hours of their time before every match to make sure you can get No Pity scarves at cost and face-value tickets without SeatGeek scalping. You may ask, “How does all this happen? Who pays for all this?”

You do.

The money you spend at the No Pity Van, buying t-shirts, hats, stickers, scarves, and other great merch, is funneled directly back into the operating budget for the Timbers Army.

And, if you’re a 107IST member, your membership in the 107 Independent Supporters Trust buys the fabric and materials for tifo and pays rent on the warehouse in which it is painted. It buys the flags and smoke. It allows us to rent the space in which we can gather and celebrate our love of the Holy Trinity: Team, Town, and TA/Riveters. It pays for outreach in the community, including more than a half-million dollars in donations from members to charitable efforts in the last ten years.

If you like supporting soccer in and around the Portland area, from the grassroots to the highest professional level, consider joining the 107IST today. Your $25 goes a long way in creating the best supporters the world has ever seen. If you’re already a member, thank you. Truly, it takes an Army.

We also invite you to get involved in what we do! There are myriad ways you can contribute. Sign up to volunteer here.

What do we do with one more wish?

Kristen Gehrke — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:10:28 GMT

The views of the author are not necessarily those of the 107IST or its Board of Directors.

Since news of the Riley scandal, we have used our buying power to send a message to the FO that we expect more. But the further we run into the playoffs, the more money we give them. As a quick aside, I'm not saying not to go. Hell, I'll be there too. But with every win, I just picture Merritt rubbing a magic genie's lamp. Wishing for another game. He knows he's got us. He knows we're all going to be there for the boys. So he rubs that lamp, and he wishes for another home game so he can laugh about how he beat us and our boycott. Needless to say, I feel a crisis of conscience.

Tuesday night as I watched the match between the Revolution and NYCFC, it felt like I was the only Timbers fan pulling for the Revs. As a fan of the game, I felt like New England was the more deserving team. Just like all those redemption stories from your favorite sports movies. Underdog team is joke of the league, until legendary coach trying to recover from embarrassing failure comes along and turns it all around. Slow-mo cut to hoisting of the cup, slow fade to aerial shot of the stadium, chop the onions, cue "We Are The Champions", roll the credits.

But to be completely honest, I wanted the Revolution to host us in the final. I want to see us win a final in our stadium as much as anyone, but for weeks all I can think about is the timing. As each and every one of us clung to our lucky rabbits foot or scarf, I kept picturing Merritt rubbing that genie's lamp.

So what do we do? We can't boycott buying tickets for the final. He'll make money on those tickets one way or another. Throw in the fluctuating prices for conference final tickets we saw in the box office/Seatgeek, and not being able to secure your reserved seats for the final, it opens a door to price out some of our core supporters. And how deflating would that be to the players who fought like hell to get us that home final? They deserve us being there, loud as ever to create the most electric game they may ever play in. So what do we do?

And again my mind goes to Merritt rubbing his lamp, but this time I remember the history of the legend of genies in the first place. The Jinn, which is usually considered to be more sentient monkeys paw than the ever impressive, long contained, often imitated, but never duplicated Genie of the lamp we may be accustomed to. Granting wishes with an unexpected twist. Like Wishmaster. Or the D'Hoffryn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Or the Star Wars prequels. Or that time you heard Ryan Reynolds was cast as Deadpool, but it was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Or the first MLS logo that my brain won't let me remember anymore (thanks little guy).

But we still have one more game to go before we get to that point, and Merritt still has one more wish. He wants a final in Portland. It has the makings to be one of the most watched MLS finals to date, and everyone wants us front and center. With a win on Saturday, the stage is set. We buy our tickets, Merritt gets his last wish, the crowds file in, the cameras roll, the mics go live, and the intro to "Friend Like Me" starts to play. What do we say?

-- Thomas Harrison, Timbers Army

2021 Cascadia Cup Update

Darren Lloyd — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:20:36 GMT

Earlier this year, the representatives of the Cascadia Cup Council confirmed that the Cup would indeed be awarded in 2021 after a balanced schedule that allowed for supporters to attend in person was made available. After five of the qualifying six matches, the winner of the Cup will be determined by the result of the final match between the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps on November 7, 2021, with multiple tiebreaker scenarios in play.

Potential results are as follows:

Scenario A: Seattle wins or draws on 11/7: Seattle wins
Scenario B: Vancouver wins by 3 or fewer on 11/7: Seattle wins
Scenario C: Vancouver wins by 4 on 11/7: Vancouver wins
Scenario D: Vancouver wins by 5+ on 11/7: Vancouver wins

Tiebreaker rules for the Cascadia Cup are as follows:

Tiebreaker 1: Greater number of points earned in matches between teams concerned
Tiebreaker 2: Greater goal difference in matches between teams concerned
Tiebreaker 3: Greater number of goals scored in matches between teams concerned

As such, Scenario A is clear: a Seattle victory or draw makes them the winner with the most points.

For Scenario B (Vancouver wins on 11/7 by 3 or fewer), all 3 teams will be even on 6 points, therefore the goal difference tie-breaker would be calculated among all three teams. If Vancouver wins by 3, GD would be Seattle +2, Vancouver 0, Portland -2, resulting in Seattle named the victor.

For Scenario C (Vancouver wins by 4 on 11/7), all 3 teams will be even on 6 points, the goal difference tie-breaker would be calculated among all three teams yielding a further tie as Seattle and Vancouver will both be +1 (Portland -2). Therefore only Seattle and Vancouver would be considered in the next tiebreaker, with Vancouver’s victory on 11/7 being +4, giving Vancouver the Cup.

For Scenario D (Vancouver wins by 5 or more on 11/7), GD is among all teams, with Seattle at 0, Vancouver at +2, and Portland at -2, resulting in Vancouver securing the Cup.

We hope this clarifies any questions or concerns about the awarding of the 2021 Cascadia Cup.

The Cascadia Cup is back for 2021!

Darren Lloyd — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 16:00:00 GMT

At long last, the representatives of the Cascadia Cup Council have determined that due to the relaxation of pandemic-related fan restrictions at matches, combined with the opportunity to create a balanced Cup schedule, the Cascadia Cup will have a 2021 champion. The Emerald City Supporters, Timbers Army, and Vancouver Southsiders have discussed all possible options, and the schedule will include:

8/15 Seattle @ Portland
8/29 Portland @ Seattle
9/10 Portland @ Vancouver
10/9 Vancouver @ Seattle
10/20 Vancouver @ Portland
11/7 Sounders @ Vancouver

Should future matches be postponed or see significant changes regarding attendance of supporters, the Cascadia Cup Council may amend this plan, but we are hopeful that the Cup will be awarded this year as intended.

Welcome (Back) to the North End!

Darren Lloyd — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 23:11:32 GMT

We’re back. You’re welcome! Maybe this is your first Timbers match. Maybe it’s been awhile. Maybe you never miss a match. Maybe you’re rusty with over a year off. Here’s some information to help make our collective match day experience the best it can be:

DO observe the one scarf-one seat rule. You can save your seat and the seat of one other person.

DO stand, chant, and/or clap for the full match, if you are able to do so. Our energy lets the players know we’re with them during every moment of the match.

DO follow the lead of Capos, Drums and Trumpets when chanting. They’re here to lead us all as one powerful voice in the North End. Some chants have been removed from the songbook over the years because they contained inappropriate or offensive language; if these chants are started by supporters, CDnT does its best to change the chant and redirect the energy.

DO NOT take home flags. Flags are not yours, they belong to all of us collectively and belong at the stadium. Taking flags out of the stadium as keepsakes is stealing.

DO NOT set off pyro in the stadium. Use of flares or smoke in an unapproved area may result in a stadium ban for those involved and potentially eliminate our stadium access for future displays.

PLEASE treat others with respect both inside and outside of the stadium. This includes Capos, Drums and Trumpets, Flag Crew, and Tifo Crew who volunteer their time to help bring unrivaled match day experiences and the No Pity Originals Crew who volunteer their time and design skills to raise the money to do so. Abuse of our volunteers will not be tolerated.

Announcing Harper's Playground / Spread the Love Scarf and Patch Fundraiser

Darren Lloyd — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 23:29:57 GMT

The following is a guest post by Cody Goldberg.

"The Timbers Army is a force for good!" These are the words I can recall hearing MANY times over 10 years ago when I started spending a lot of time with Timber Jim Serrill. It was Jim who decided that the first Harper's Playground should receive the blessing of "The Army" and it was he who pushed for a scarf to help raise funds. It was the Timbers inaugural season in the MLS, and the Army stepped up. $25,000 was raised through that first scarf, and over another $75,000 has been raised through the sales of 3 more collaborative scarves.

I am delighted to share the news here that we have a new project and a new scarf and patch. This is our biggest and best playground design, and the scarf is as special as it has ever been. I believe this is the first scarf, outside the Northern Alliance, focused on Vancouver, WA? I know this is special as it combines elements from Harper's Playground, Jim's "Spread The Love" mantra, The Axes & Rose, The Vancouver Fire Fighters crest and it looks really, REALLY cool!

Harper's Playground is all about inclusion, and so is the 107IST. We share a vision of a world where everyone feels welcome, everywhere. Except for racists and homophobes and people filled with hate. Those people need to change first, then they are welcome. We agree on this. In partnership, we have developed this special scarf dedicated to helping create a special space in Vancouver, WA, at Marshall Park, that will welcome everyone and celebrate everyone’s unique abilities. All abilities. All ages. Everyone.

I'm incredibly humbled by these 10 years of support and I hope that everyone will want one of these scarves and will maybe buy two, one for themselves and one for a friend. Spread the love, right!? We will raise $1.5 million in the next year, and these scarves will be an important part of that. They will help raise much needed $ and they will help raise awareness for the need for more inclusive places.

Thanks to the 107IST, to Timber Jim, to The Vancouver Firefighters Union, the No Pity Originals team and thanks to everyone who will be buying and waving the latest Spread The Love Scarf at Providence soon!

-Cody

Fundraiser details

All net proceeds will be donated directly to Harpers Playground to benefit the Marshall Park project.
Preorder will run from 7/23 – 8/22. Cannot guarantee any availability outside of the preorder
Ways to support
- Scarf + Patch bundle - $25
- Scarf 5 Pack
Expected arrival and distribution of all pre-orders the end of August beginning of September

Don't Profit off the North End: Ticketing Edition

Darren Lloyd — Mon, 10 May 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Since its inception in 2001, the Timbers Army has advocated for affordable ticket pricing. We believe that football is for the fans, and we champion authentic, homegrown support of our players and the beautiful game. We believe in General Admission to allow supporters to choose their level of involvement in their active support of the Boys in Green. We say, "If you want to be Timbers Army, you already are." To that end, we facilitate face-value ticket exchanges to ensure that anyone who wants to attend a match is able to do so at an affordable price.

While limited capacity means that reserved seating is a necessity to continue safely distancing during a pandemic, the North End is still the home of the Timbers Army. When tickets go on sale at 10 AM, it’s only tickets in the North End and only offered to season ticket holders who have tickets in the North End. That supporters then choose to gouge their fellow supporters—the very same people who make the atmosphere unequaled in North America—is against everything for which the Timbers Army stands. Don’t profit off the North End.

Secondary market prices make it difficult to allow supporters to attend Timbers matches. These prices don’t "Spread the Love." "Me" is not a part of the Golden Triangle of Team, Town, Timbers Army. We encourage supporters to consider their fellow supporters. The 107IST facilitates the Timbers & Thorns Ticket Exchange on Facebook, as well as a day-of-game ticket exchange at the Fanladen when circumstances allow, and we encourage their use.

With the Rose City Riveters and 107IST, we continue to discuss solutions to this issue with the Timbers and Thorns front office, as it is of mutual interest to all supporters.

Forced assimilation, bicultural identity and the myth of an inclusive TA

107ist Admin — Thu, 06 May 2021 03:51:58 GMT

The following is a post by Nancy Flores-Sánchez, a member of the BIPOC Advisory Board, the Timbers Army, the Rose City Riveters, and the 107IST.

“Living on borders and in margins, keeping intact one's shifting and multiple identity and integrity, is like trying to swim in a new element, an 'alien' element.” — Gloria E. Anzaldúa

“If you didn't grow up like I did then you don't know, and if you don't know it's probably better you don't judge.” — Junot Díaz

I’d like to preface this post by saying a few things. First, when I refer to “we” I am not speaking for all undocumented Latinx people in PDX. However, I know the proceeding experiences are common amongst many of us. Second, just because I only detail one story, doesn’t mean it’s the only one. I am not going to list them all here. Third, when I refer to you, I am speaking to those that caused harm. You know who you are; if you don’t, continue reading. If you find yourself getting defensive, then you’re probably included in that “you.” Fourth, being a part of a marginalized community, such as the Latinx community, does not mean a person can’t be an oppressor. Lastly, there were some situations where accusations were made that have not been verified. This post is not about that. This is bigger than that.

If you want to be in the TA...

Instead of creating a welcoming space for our BIPOC community, which should have been an easy ask with a high return, while taking a minimal amount of effort, we created a hostile environment. An environment which many of the potential Timbers fans that attended that night will not want to return to.

This exclusive and harmful behaviour started before Wednesday. While trying to find tickets I came across a thread on FB, where many of you were demanding that Club América fans not wear their team's gear in the North End because the rules “are *literally* printed on the ticket. Don’t be a dick.” This was followed by several ignorant comments like:

“tell me you just moved here and haven’t been to a timbers game, without telling me”

“Any jabronies acting like victims because you can’t wear your CA kit into the home supporters section at an away game, is clearly a troll. This is the stadium policy, and VERY common even at the MLS level. They know it’s the norm, they just don’t think they’ll get showered with batteries and rocks for it here in Liberal Wypypo Portland. Let’s show them they’re wrong and throw batteries into the stadium from the roof of the old Oregonian building.”

“If you are a Club América supporter trying to play footy tourist for the night, Nuh uh, take your candy ass back to your own supporter section where you belong. We aren’t here for your entertainment or your IG story and we want nothing more than to destroy your team. If that makes me Exclusive. Welp, I guess thems the breaks. I’ve been called worse.”

“We are just as inclusive as you’ve heard when it comes to race, sexual orientation and the like. Not allowing opposing fans in the dedicated supporters section is unrelated to that. It’s protocol in practically every stadium in the world.”

Well ok then. There’s a whole lotta toxic masculinity with some casual racism thrown in to unpack. I have said this so many times, this match is different. The same rules do not apply.

A mix of anger and straight up disappointment

The right to belong: You’re assuming that many of these fans “just moved here.” You are already labeling them as outsiders when, in fact, the majority live here, have lived here for a long time, and will continue to live here. You are “othering” a whole group of marginalized people that are your literal neighbors and who are already part of the community.

You are assuming that these fans know the rules; they just don’t want to follow them. Many of these fans have not been to a Timbers game even though they love fútbol (probably more than you do) because we don’t make it accessible or welcoming for them. So no, they probably don’t know the rules. You are also assuming that every fan in the stadium reads their ticket, can read their ticket or can understand what the ticket says.

All América fans that want to wear their gear are trolls. Or maybe, maybe they’re just fans that for once have their team here and want to show their pride. You are assuming these fans are the ones that throw batteries. Which means you are still assuming, they are not from here. You also want to throw batteries at them.

You are again, again, assuming that all the América fans at this game will be from other places. You are repeatedly showing that you see us as “others.” “Take your candy ass back to your own supporter section where you belong.” Again with the insistence that we don’t belong. Also, what about the fans that support both teams? Trust me when I tell you that América fans are not entertained by you, they are not impressed and they most certainly won't put you on their IG story when they have Memo Ochoa on the field. I mean, come on.

“We are just as inclusive as you’ve heard when it comes to race, sexual orientation and the like.“: Are you though? I mean there is a reason there are hardly any BIPOC supporters at games. This game showed that it’s not for a lack of BIPOC soccer fans, so it must be something else. *I wonder what it could be, she types sarcastically*. This is not the same as the Sounders coming to town. Again, a lot of these fans are not visitors. They live here.

The statements posted in this thread reflect the feelings that a lot of TA members had. These feelings are conducive to the unprovoked hostility some América fans received. These situations are what prompted me to speak as to why this game was full of microaggressions and racism.

Justifying bad behavior

América fans are obnoxious.

(mostly true) but so what?

They throw bags of piss at away supporters in their stadium.

Are we at Azteca?! Did I magically become a U.S. citizen and am suddenly able to travel to Mexico?! Are these the Azteca supporters that are here? Are we the Chivas? Is this El Clasico? No? Ok then, that’s irrelevant.

This is soccer they should be used to this.

This is soccer in a different country. No, we are not used to gatekeeping drunk white supporters.

All of these statements show your ignorance.

The never-ending fight against assimilation and the internal struggle it creates

For myself, and many others like me, having this Liga MX team here means so much more than your privileged, fully able-to-roam-the-world-selves could ever imagine. We were taken away, without any agency or choice, from our homeland by our parents for a better life. We arrived in a country that continuously undervalues, oppresses, abuses, judges and threatens us. We grew up trying to prove that we belong here while being surrounded by a dominant culture that in no way reflects our own. Because of this, many of us internalized the racism that we experienced and became ashamed of our heritage.

I remember many Latinx students in high school making fun of our own music saying it sounded like “polka” music, in front of white peers and then dancing all night to it at the next Quince¹. I remember being ashamed of the delicious corundas² my mom made for my 13th birthday party because my “friends” thought it was weird and gross. I remember many of us being ashamed of our families' accents, of their inability to conform to the social norms of the country they brought us to. Now I am only ashamed that I ever felt that way.

While we were being made to feel ashamed of our heritage by the white people that surround us, we were also being berated by our own people for “sounding too white” and listening to “white music.” “Are you even Mexican?” was a common question I was asked.

We were placed in a lose-lose situation that many of us have yet to recover from. It took many more years to begin to dissolve the internalized racism we have developed. It took even longer still to accept that we can in fact, be both proud of our Mexican heritage and proud to be an Oregonian. Which means we can be both die-hard América fans (Club Atlético Morelia for me) and die-hard Timbers fans.

Yet even though we are proud of our cross-cultural identity, it seems that we can’t escape being shamed by white peers. There were several instances before, during and after Wednesday's match, where we were once again reminded that we are not accepted by you. You claim to accept us and to want to include us, yet the one chance you got to truly show your appreciation and acceptance, you only used to remind us that there is still a dominant culture that refuses to accept another. Not only that, but you attempted to make us choose. Do you have any idea how fucking harmful that is? No. You don’t because you don’t have to. This isn’t a choice between whatever state you transplanted from or Oregon scenario. This is our culture, our entire being.

As insignificant as it may seem to you, telling us we aren’t real Timbers fans if we are also fans of our home country team, is you telling us that part of us isn’t valid. You are basically telling us we can’t be both, when it took us years to accept that we are.

By asking us to choose a team and stick to it, you are demanding us to assimilate or risk being excluded. Maybe it wasn’t your intent to make us feel that way, well guess what? Intent doesn’t matter.

Gatekeeping in the TA

Yelling at children that are América fans, children, is exclusive, racist, and just generally shitty behavior.

Why? Because you are targeting a community that lives here, some of which root for the Timbers throughout the year. Why should you let them sit in “your” section? Because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of them and they call PDX home too. This is their city, they are not visitors. Chill TF out and let others enjoy themselves.

If they aren’t harassing you (no cheering loudly isn’t harassing) then let them be. Better yet, be happy for all of us. We finally have something that is from home. Something familiar. We felt this deep in our hearts. You do not and will never understand the pain that goes along with not being able to go where you are with your people...where you are not the “minority.”

This match had the promise to be a tiny relief from that pain for so many of us. You should have had some empathy. The majority of the América fans I saw in the TA section were families. The only harassing I saw in that section was from Timbers fans.

Right now, I bet many of you are scoffing at this. You’re probably thinking this is an overreaction or you’re thinking that América fans deserve the hate or you’re saying “whatever get over it.” Maybe you’re thinking “well, I didn’t see any of us starting anything. It was all the América fans crossing the line.” Or “They know what it’s like; they’re fine.” Perhaps you’re justifying this behavior by pointing out that this is a huge game and this is to be expected. Maybe you’re thinking some variation of pics or it didn’t happen. Some of you might be thinking, nah we’re not like that.

If you’re thinking any of that right now, you’re not fucking listening.

Who created that energy?

This wasn’t a normal game. This wasn’t Seattle or even LAFC.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for so many of us. I am not an América fan, in fact I dislike them very, very much, but I jumped at the chance to attend this game. Not only because I wanted to see the Timbers, but because this was a tiny bit of home that was coming to me when I can’t go home.

One of my friends mentioned how their dad is a die-hard América fan and so is his younger brother. His brother grew up idolizing América because of his dad. His dad talks about experiencing a game at Estadio Azteca, and his son can only imagine what it would be like to be at the famed stadium. That experience can only happen in his imagination because he cannot go back home either. This match was like getting a tiny taste of what it would be like to be surrounded by your community instead of a lot of white people for once. An infinitely small glimpse into a home match at Azteca. For his dad, it was nostalgic, it was almost, almost like home. Until he was confronted with “why are you cheering for them?!” and several middle fingers in his face.

My friend's family absolutely loves futbol. They live and breathe it; even so, his dad or his brothers have never been to Timbers game before. They might not come back. My friend said if they and many other people from that game do go back for a regular Timbers game “They will already be expecting hostility; they will be on alert" and who created that energy?

You did.

Yes, América fans do instigate and troll, but tell me why with the many, many instances that Sounders fans have done the same, you managed to find a way to deescalate the situation to avoid fights, but with these fans you couldn’t?

It could have been so beautiful

Why is it that we have collaborations with Chicago fans, but we couldn’t find a way to reach out and collaborate with fans from our own community that we supposedly want to include more?

Why is it that you can arrange a supporters match against Seattle, our most hated rival, but you couldn’t manage to create something similar for América fans? (Yes COVID, but I am sure something else could have been arranged.)

Why is it that you can find ways to bond with other fans from different states, but you couldn’t find a way to do the same with the América fans from your own city?

Is it that difficult to find a way to include Latinx fans?

This team isn’t even in our league, we literally have no rivalry with them. We will probably never play them again. So why didn’t you try to make it a great experience for these fans?

You could have gained life-long supporters. You could have finally made the TA a little bit less white, why didn’t you try?

You seek to find ways to fundraise for the Latinx community, but you didn’t capitalize on the one event that not only could’ve unified our communities, but could have also raised money for DACA students or the other Latinx organizations you know. You didn’t even think of a way to turn this into an event that would have welcomed the Latinx community for once. Why didn’t you think of that?

How can you continue to say that you are going to do the work to learn about racism, oppression and do better, and then contribute to this situation?

Some of you have been at the protests regularly, you have stated over and over again that we need to listen to the oppressed. Is this only true when you aren’t the ones being oppressive?

What is it that you hate so much about América fans? What was it about them that made you instantly label them as outsiders? What prevented you from seeing them as members of your own community? What is it that makes you treat them worse than Seattle, the team you supposedly hate the most?

Think about it.

Go ahead and have a conversation with yourself about these questions. Don’t come to me for answers. It is not my job to teach you. I have explained to you more than I needed to. It is up to you whether you are going to be defensive, call me all sorts of things, believe that I am just angry and overreacting or if you’re going to really take in what I said. And please, please do not come to me with apologies and sympathy, the last thing us BIPOC people need to do after we are wronged, is comfort you when you feel guilty. Deal with your guilt by actively listening and educating yourself, not by telling me how sorry you are and/or how bad you feel. Because honestly, I don’t have the energy to care anymore.

If anything were to happen between Timbers supporters and América fans at Estadio Azteca, it would not justify the behaviour of the TA here nor does it negate anything I have written. Any Timbers supporters that traveled to Azteca would be in a much, much different situation than the América fans we saw here. Traveling Timbers fans are not an oppressed people trying hard to become valued members of the local community near Estadio Azteca.

The América fans at Azteca are not the members of our community. It would not be the same situation.

¹Quinceañera or quinceaños: a latin version of a sweet-15 celebration

² Mexican type of tamale, but wrapped in a long corn plant leaf, and folded, making a triangular shape or spherical shape

2021 Cascadia Cup Update

Darren Lloyd — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 19:00:00 GMT

Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Vancouver, BC, April 16, 2021 -- As the 2021 MLS season begins, representatives of the Cascadia Cup Council are still working through the details on how to award the 2021 Cascadia Cup, given pandemic restrictions in Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. At this time, many MLS teams (including Seattle and Portland) are not allocating tickets to away supporters or promoting away travel, and Vancouver will, at least temporarily, play “home” games at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT with no fans in attendance. The Emerald City Supporters, Timbers Army, and Vancouver Southsiders continue to evaluate options on how to properly award the supporter-owned-and-driven Cup using the most fair methodology, and expect to make an updated announcement in, or before, July 2021.

A Statement on Behalf of the Timbers Army Regarding MLSPA and Negotiations with MLS

Darren Lloyd — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 18:17:52 GMT

[Portland, OR; February 3, 2021]

The Timbers Army emphatically supports MLS players in their negotiations with the league.

This past year has been one of incredible hardship and sacrifice for all of us. Players have put themselves at risk — giving up time at home with loved ones, enduring extremely challenging travel and working conditions, and making significant monetary concessions — all in service of the game we all love. Supporters recognize the sacrifices that players have already made on behalf of supporters and the league in order to allow the highest levels of professional soccer in the United States and Canada to continue in the midst of a pandemic.

While league owners also made sacrifices and endured losses in 2020, MLS team owners are far better positioned to absorb such losses in the short term. The MLS Players Association (MLSPA) proposal to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) into the 2026 season, along with other non-economic changes, is a reasonable offer, and it demonstrates the players’ good faith and willingness to find working solutions that contribute to the league’s long-term stability. The league’s attempt to extend the current contract through 2027 smacks of a cynical attempt to take advantage of a short-term emergency and a setback from what had been great momentum and progress between MLS and the MLSPA.

In 2019, the players stood in solidarity with the supporters. Now it is our time to stand with them. We stand with MLSPA. #LetThemPlay2021

Hearts on their sleeves and thousands of voices strong, the Timbers Army fills Providence Park with songs, scarves, flags, and confetti. A proud member of the Independent Supporters Council, the Timbers Army supports the Portland Timbers, in the stands and in the streets. For more information, visit timbersarmy.org.

A New Timbers Army Crest

Darren Lloyd — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 23:36:56 GMT

We’re proud and excited to announce a new Timbers Army crest. The new crest celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the Timbers Army, the best supporters the world has ever seen, with a bold, modern design.

It features the addition of our iconic green and white No Pity bar scarf, the calling card of the Timbers Army since the early days of the group in the Timbers’ USL era. The new crest also carries forward the letters “CR” as a nod to our beginnings as the Cascade Rangers and the crossed axe and rose, which has featured prominently throughout the MLS era. In the full crest, the “No Pity” motto, known the world over, is found nestled in the North End of the stadium, the heartbeat of Soccer City, USA.

Over the next few weeks, you’ll start to see the new crest on social media, our website, and No Pity Originals merchandise. New crest merch will be available in the (online-only) winter sale, beginning this weekend!

Announcing the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

107ist Admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 05:07:00 GMT

Ladies and gentlemen, the champ is here! With an overwhelming 61% of the vote, your 2020 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year is Jeremy Ebobisse!

Finishing second in this year’s voting was Diego Chara. Also receiving votes were Sebastián Blanco, Eryk Williamson, Steve Clark, Diego Valeri, Yimmi Chará, Felipe Mora, Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Jeff Attinella, Andrés Flores, Larrys Mabiala, Jorge Villafaña, Pablo Bonilla, Jorge Moreira, and Cristhian Paredes.

About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

Awarded annually since 2011, the Timbers Army Supporters' Player of the Year award is a one-of-a-kind wrestling-style championship belt given to the Timbers player receiving the most votes in a poll during the last weeks of the regular season. To be eligible, players must be on the roster during the regular season. The belt is presented to the winner after the last home match of the season. In 2020, because of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the ability of the Rapids to play their rescheduled match against the Timbers, the belt was presented following the last regular season home match on the original schedule.

Previous Winners

2019: Steve Clark
2018: Sebastián Blanco
2017: Diego Valeri
2016: Diego Valeri
2015: Diego Chara
2014: Diego Valeri
2013: Will Johnson
2012: Diego Chara
2011: Troy Perkins

Introducing the Timbers Army Steering Committee

Darren Lloyd — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Timbers Army Steering Committee deals with the day-to-day activities of the Timbers Army, allowing the 107IST board to focus on its mission of supporting soccer in and around Portland, Oregon, from the grassroots to the highest professional level.

Members of the steering committee are drawn from the same groups of volunteers carting flags up and down stairs, painting tifo, slinging merch on match days, banging drums, blowing horns, and waving their arms to get you to sing for the Boys in Green. They’ve always been leaders in their respective groups, working in the background to make Soccer City, USA the special place that it is. These groups of volunteers (capos, drums and trumpets, flag crew, tifo, and merch) have played a critical part in cultivating the supporters’ culture we have now, and their representation on the steering committee ensures that the culture of The North End continues to grow and evolve.

At the inception of the original Council of XI in 2010, the 107 Independent Supporters Trust was the engine behind one supporters group: the Timbers Army. This meant that a message from, for, or about the 107IST was more or less also from, for, or about the Timbers Army. There was a point in the life of the 107IST that the same people directly responsible for day-to-day Timbers Army activities were also on the 107IST board — but the 107IST has grown over the past ten years. 2013 celebrated the arrival of NWSL to Portland and the formation of the Rose City Riveters. In the years that followed, the composition and focus of the 107IST board has changed beyond just the Timbers Army.

The 107IST, the Rose City Riveters, and the Timbers Army have been working together in recent years to develop strong and independent voices for each of the entities underneath the 107IST umbrella. While the Riveters have done an excellent job in ensuring their messaging and voice is distinct and represents their supporters group, the Timbers Army and 107IST messaging and voice have remained fairly closely coupled. All too often, “107IST” is interpreted as synonymous with “Timbers Army” and only Timbers Army. It’s time to fix that.

This change is about streamlining and creating capacity within the organization — allowing the steering committee to directly address day-to-day Timbers Army business without requiring board input at every step along the way. This effort began in earnest last year: Much of the work in the terraces last season was driven by the Timbers Army Steering Committee, in partnership with both the 107IST board and the Riveters Steering Committee.

You can learn more about the steering committee’s purpose, membership, scope, and more by reading their charter.

We look forward to seeing all of you in The North End again soon. Onward, Rose City.

An Update on the No Pity Van

Darren Lloyd — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:47:06 GMT

Early in the morning of August 13, officers with the Portland Police Bureau punctured four of the No Pity Van’s tires while we were complying with their orders to leave the area.

As we’ve done since early June, the No Pity Van was downtown to support the community through our affiliation with Portland United Against Hate (PUAH), as well as to provide medical supplies for street medics, and PPE and water to anyone who needs it.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time law enforcement has damaged the van: On July 25, while the van was trying to leave the area in accordance with police orders, a federal officer fired a munition that hit and destroyed the windshield.

If these actions were meant to discourage our continued support of our community, they have actually done the opposite. We have repaired the van and plan to double down our support of the community members who are standing up against injustice. Black Lives Matter.

You cannot stop us. We are the Rose City.

Message from the Cascadia Cup Council

Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson-Ybarra — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 16:41:12 GMT

[Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Vancouver, BC]

On June 10, 2020, representatives of the Cascadia Cup Council unanimously agreed that "MLS is Back" tournament matches played behind closed doors, along with any future matches played in MLS stadiums where supporters are not present, will not count towards Cascadia Cup Standings in 2020. In order to continue the Cascadia Cup’s tradition of competitive balance, each club must complete both home and away matches against each of the other clubs, and 2020 will operate as with any other season the Cascadia Cup was awarded while Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver played in MLS together. As always, the Cascadia Cup Council and the supporter groups it represents stand with the MLSPA.

A statement from the Timbers Army

Jennifer Ingraham — Wed, 27 May 2020 18:45:32 GMT

The Timbers Army are legendary in Major League Soccer for our support of the Portland Timbers, whether the team is playing at home or on the road.

However, we oppose concepts of an MLS tournament in lieu of regular season matches in 2020. Our primary concern is for the physical health and mental well-being of all MLS players, coaching staff, and support staff. It is foolish to ask these individuals to leave their homes, families, and support systems in the midst of a global pandemic.

We oppose concepts of limited- or reduced-capacity MLS matches: we would rather attend matches where everyone who has a season ticket can celebrate the beautiful game together and we are prepared to wait until it is safe to do so. Our love for the game will not diminish over time.

We oppose any attempt by MLS or MLS teams to re-create match day experiences through artificial means, whether that be piping in crowd noises and chants over loudspeakers or on broadcast/streaming matches, creating tifo to be hoisted in "neutral" stadiums, etc. The Timbers Army has always been about supporting the Timbers in an organic and authentic way.

We anxiously await the day when we can all safely reconvene at Providence Park, when the drums and horns and our voices erupt with the joy of seeing our players back on the pitch.

For now, we will remain safely at a distance, using our voices and energy to support the safety and well-being of players and our communities.

Why the Iron Front?

Jennifer Ingraham — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 22:24:14 GMT

The following is a post from Ben Pollak.

Why is the Iron Front symbol so important, you ask? Why can’t we settle for other antifascist symbols and messages? Hopefully I can help dispel some myths and explain how we got to this point.

The league arbitrarily banned the Iron Front symbol, alleging that there are fans who are uncomfortable seeing it in the stands due to supposed connections to violence, but the Timbers Army has displayed the Iron Front for years in our stadium with no complaints, and indeed the Emerald City Supporters in Seattle have included it on their scarves since at least 2009.

This symbol is important because it comes from a time and place that we would do well to learn from. It was designed by antifascists in Germany in the 1920s, who wanted something that represented their opposition to Hitler and his Nazi party that could be used to easily cover up swastikas. It is especially important for me, as a Jew whose grandfather barely escaped Vienna in 1939, getting a visa to come to the United States the day after the Germans annexed Austria. The vast majority of his family — my family — were murdered by the Nazis, and the Iron Front was the symbol of opposition. It has since been adopted by American antifascists, like myself.

I was told all my life never to let the Holocaust happen again. Well, my friends, NEVER AGAIN IS NOW. We are operating concentration camps, and though we are not yet exterminating people, we are detaining them in conditions that match the descriptions of those used by the Nazis. If you want a first-hand account of the horrors of Nazi concentration camps to compare them with what we are doing to detainees on our own border, I suggest you read Elie Wiesel’s Night or Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

We choose to stand up at a critical time for the world, and say no to hate, no to fascism, and no to bigotry. We are the Timbers Army, we are antifascists, and we want your help. Help us overturn the ban on the Iron Front and reform the code of conduct with guidance from experts on human rights. This simple symbol represents opposition to the three most prominent forms of totalitarian government: fascism, monarchy, and communism. Regardless of party affiliation, you likely oppose these things. Censorship is a very slippery slope, and if we allow the league to ban the Iron Front, what will be next is anyone’s guess.

Is the symbol associated with antifa? Perhaps, but what does that mean? I am antifa, and in fact you probably are too, if you’re reading this. Antifa is an idea. It means anti-fascist. Do you oppose fascism? Then you are antifa. Those who insist antifa are a violent group are lying to you. They have an agenda, and they know what they are doing when they demonize the people who oppose them as violent thugs.

By censoring this symbol, MLS is doing the bidding of those who want to see children in cages. Let’s mean it when we say NEVER AGAIN.

It was magic. Twice.

Jennifer Ingraham — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 22:29:34 GMT

The following is a post from Duane Schulz (@timbersds).

I discovered pro soccer in 1975. 3,000 grew to 30,000 in year one. Commissioner Mildred kissed the boys. We threw beer, swarmed the field, flooded Morrison Avenue post-game, and partied with the team at the Hilton. Timber Jim risked his life every game – it was insane. And it was magic. It wasn’t a sport, it was community, shared values, positive energy. And Portland stood out across the US. We showed the country who we were and how we were different, in many ways a first. And we were ALL the Timbers Army.

I moved to DC, watched the Timbers play the Diplomats with Johan Cruyff along with a measly 5,000 in RFK Stadium. When I returned, the NASL was gone, the Timbers were mostly quiet, coming and going in different forms.

We heard noise from our house on the hill above PGE Park. The Timbers were really back! The USL return was hopeful. Our attendance was impressive compared with other USL cities (hint, hint) given the hiatus. An ambitious, smart, energetic new owner gave us the financial and political means to go big, and threw his heart into it. An Army was born in Section 107. We were a team. He knew we could enable his success, and listened and partnered. Bad logo design feedback from the Army, and a new logo appeared. April 13, 2011 blew everybody away — and we became a global template of what Ownership plus Ultras looked like. The media fought to cover games at Providence Park. Our owner showed us he was committed and brought us Magic. 2015 was something. I still get goosebumps and tears when I think about it.

Fast forward to today. It’s not feeling like a partnership anymore. The MLS is going big, and corporate. Atlanta and LA are the models now. It’s inevitable that we’ll be like the NFL, Serie A, EPL, etc. soon – big dollars to the big markets. The $89M gift of a beautiful remodel of PP (Mike Golub’s a true hero) is part of it.

The question is: Can Portland show how a big MLS future can happen while showing a community-style, values-driven, partnership based on dialogue and collaboration?

Today, I’d say no. The army waves lots of flags — many “political,” many with an obscure history. Now an 88-year-old symbol against fascism (in fact, three forms of totalitarian rule – read your history, people) pops up, we include that in the flag collection. A handful of local anarchists use it as well. (They also use the American flag; better pull that down too, and scarves to keep out the smoke from a goal), and the Front Office says no. Is support of the LGBTQ community not political? This time the Front Office–107ist dialogue is met with the current divisive cultural impasse. And now we’ve replaced the Iron Front with a giant fist. Does anyone in the FO know the political meaning of that? This could have turned out differently. There are many possible paths forward, but none taken.

The letter from the Timbers’ ownership this week was a big disappointment. It was a series of statements without supporting facts. It was irrational on its face and illogical in structure. You can’t ban an anti-fascist symbol and say you are anti-fascist. You can’t allow all of the other clearly political content we display and take this position. Chicago Fire FO said it was OK, but we disrespected their small group of guests last week. It’s our FO’s reading of the MLS rule, not the rule. Sadly, that letter could have outlined the steps to come together with a mutually acceptable solution, and at least left a door open ... But no.

I guess we’ll join the other big stadiums full of fans who like but don’t worship the game, stay seated throughout and leave as soon as we start losing. Just like all the big sports. The magic is gone. Massive bummer, what a shame. I guess we’ll hold onto our season tickets. We’ll be able to make a lot of money from them.

This is how the world knows who we are

Jennifer Ingraham — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 22:05:15 GMT

The following is a post from Ina Doerr.

There were murmurs earlier this year about what happened when an Iron Front Portlandia tifo was displayed on May 10, 2019, in B.C. Place before the start of the Vancouver Whitecaps–Portland Timbers match. Vancouver was the first match of the season with tifo by the Timbers Army; an away match, but an important away match — a Cascadian away match.

The murmurs have since been overtaken by the roar of #AUnitedFront, so one could be forgiven for not realizing, or even forgetting about, what that tifo showed us: MLS and, by extension, the Portland Timbers Front Office (FO), fundamentally misunderstands the Iron Front image and sees it as a potential threat to corporate sponsorship and television deals.

Months later and here we are, on the day of another Cascadia match. The league continues to dismiss the supporters groups' concerns about the arbitrary nature of the Code of Conduct. Its commissioner continues to send dog whistles to white supremacist-alt right-nationalists that MLS is a place where money is more important than morals. The FO continues to put out garbled messages with contradictory and misleading information.

People in our community have written wonderful pieces on the history of the Iron Front and its significance in contemporary times. Others have written about the League and FO’s treatment of its most important asset: its supporters.

I encourage you to read their words and find something that resonates with you, helps you better understand the situation, encourages you to donate time or money to just and equitable causes, and prepares you for conversations you never imagined you’d have about three arrows pointed down and to the left.

I urge the league to rescind its ban on flying the Iron Front flag, remove the arbitrary word “political” from its fan code of conduct, and work with international experts on human rights to craft language in the fan code of conduct that reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination.

To the players and coaching staff caught in the middle of this battle, who may be feeling awkward not having the full voices and displays of support we usually show you on the pitch, please know that this isn’t about you. It’s about us — all of us.

I leave you with this, and apologies to Ronald Talney for changing the last line:
She kneels down, and from the quietness of copper reaches out. We take that stillness into ourselves, and somewhere deep in the earth our breath becomes her city. If she could speak this is what she would say: Follow that breath. Home is the journey we make. This is how the world knows who we are.

My Timbers Army antifascist soccer family

Jennifer Ingraham — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 00:35:26 GMT

The following is a post from Tanya Keith.

I am a Jewish member of Timbers Army. I know I'm not alone, because I had fellow tribe members help me try to light Hanukkah candles in the wind and rain at our MLS Cup Final game in Atlanta. But the rise of antisemitism and antisemitic violence does weigh on me. As we prepare for our son's bar mitzvah, I am more frequently confronted with the fact that my synagogue is always locked due to security concerns. It keeps me up at night" What will this world look like through the lens of synagogue life in a year?

When #AUnitedFront started earlier in August, with the Timbers Army taking a stand against an MLS ban on the antifascist iron front symbol that was all too easily supported by the Timbers Front Office, I waited. As a Jew, I have so many friends that say, "Don't worry, we'll protect you" when the "never again" topic comes up. But I don't really believe them. When your life and the things you love are on the line, will you really stand up for my family against oppression?

What the Timbers Army and away Seattle Sounders supporters did tonight was shout a resounding "Hell yes, we will stand with you" in the quietest possible way. In one of the greatest rivalry games in soccer, our fans and their fans, who typically have no love lost between them, banded together and showed MLS Soccer that we will not back down when the rise of fascism is on the line.

For the first 33 minutes of the match, the stadium sounded more like a Des Moines Menace match than the biggest rivalry in MLS. No flags, no tifo, no singing. ESPN tried to create some sound by cranking up the field mics, but the result was an awkward, uneasy quiet punctuated by players talking and the occasional halfhearted attempt to get a chant started from (I imagine) some white dudes beside themselves in the uncomfortable quiet.

The message was clear. Timbers Army is a huge part of what makes MLS great, and we have always been antifascist. We sing Bella Ciao because of its antifascist history. You can't separate us from who we are.

To my TA family: I love you all. I know you risked getting banned from a game we all love to show support for the Iron Front, but for me, it was so much more than that. I will sleep better tonight knowing that I have an Army behind me, protecting my family from hate and oppression. Your magic is real and I'm so glad to be a part of it.

To Major League Soccer: Your profits are not more important than my family's safety. You talk the big talk about wanting to be more family-friendly ... Well here is your chance. Teach my children that you will stand up to the Faux News bullies that try to make Antifa any more than what we saw tonight: a group of glorious people bravely willing to stand up to hate and fascism.

In closing, here are a few tweets that captured the in stadium experience from awkward silence to the best Timbers Army has ever sounded.

All Quiet: https://twitter.com/jgrawrock/status/1165085528120684544

EBFG United: https://twitter.com/PaulAtkinsonPDX/status/1165084253312307201

The moment the protest ends: https://twitter.com/JBAustin9/status/1165099149236289536

Bella Ciao: https://twitter.com/jgrawrock/status/1165093759626797057

What Antifa actually looks like: https://twitter.com/PaulAtkinsonPDX/status/1165097139602509824

"Our sunlight is not for franchise"

Jennifer Ingraham — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 00:44:22 GMT

The following is a post by Josh Lawrence.

First... If you haven’t read these, please disregard what I’ve written and skip to these. These are the voices you need to hear.

Nothing personal. It’s just business.

Home. Church. Family.

The bottom line

I was told…

The Nazis didn’t send centrists to Auschwitz. They sent the anti-fascists.

Second ... I’m going to be honest, as I always try to be:

I think the Timbers have done enough in their advocacy for us, as supporters, to speak our mind. I believe that Merritt and the organization are genuinely anti-racist and anti-fascist; at least as much as a rich white man and a business can be. I appreciate their early support of marriage equality, and — what I believe to be their true support for us in their dealings with MLS — to allow us to have anti-fascism signs and banners, and to wear the Iron Front symbol on our clothing. I think that the Iron Front logo ban issue is a tough hill to die on — and right now it indeed does seem like Timbers Army and the Timbers are going to all die on that hill.

You know what else? It doesn’t matter what I think.

You heard me.

I’m a straight white man; tall to boot. It is the definition of privilege to say that I want to keep “politics” out of my stadium, and to think that since the Timbers have “done enough” in this fight that it should be abandoned; that we should just go back to watching soccer, drinking beer, and singing with our friends. I can go my merry way into a sea of people that look mostly like me (Portland in general, and Providence Park, specifically) without worrying whether I am welcomed there. Whether I am safe there. I don’t have to worry when I come back into my country that I’ll be detained at immigration because of the color of my skin, the texture of my hair, my accent, as Román Torres reportedly was. I don’t have to be terrorized by racist comments as I walk the streets of “liberal” Portland, as Andrés Flores’ wife Daniela was. When white supremacists come to my town, hell, I can choose my side. And when white supremacists are elected to high-level positions in our government, I don’t have to be scared that they’ll come for me or for my family. If they do, I can just become one of them, like a good, silent, white German citizen might have done in 1938, as their neighbors were dragged to concentration camps.

I don’t need to see a huge banner with a symbol representing anti-fascism, anti-racism, and anti-totalitarianism when I walk into my soccer stadium, because I can just fold into this crowd of standing screaming mostly white mostly men and become one of them, without thinking twice about why a standing screaming crowd of white men might not be the safest place for me to be, historically speaking.

But I know there are people that do need to see this banner. I’ve read the accounts from people of color, from transgendered folks, from LGBTQ+ community members, and from women, who might never have joined this family without seeing large and outward expressions of welcome and acceptance and support and safety that was prominently flown from our terraces, until it was banned this year by MLS, and by the Timbers and Thorns Front Office, because of its “politics.”

I still have a lot to learn. But I think and hope I’ve learned a lot lately — by reading, by following battles like this one, and by listening. One thing I’ve learned is that I can be an ally by amplifying the voices of those whose voices are historically underrepresented, drowned out, or suppressed. This is why I kneel during the anthem. This is why I try (with mixed results) to shut the fuck up when someone is talking about their experience, especially if it’s different than my privileged white male American life. And this is why I will support Timbers Army to the very end of this fight. I trust and believe in Timbers Army and 107IST. I never thought I’d say this, but I trust and believe in ECS and Gorilla FC in this fight. I trust and believe that they — that WE — are amplifying the voice of those that need this, that deserve this. That we have heard them and listened. I don’t believe that MLS or the Timbers or the Thorns have even asked.

So tonight — you know what? — fuck soccer. I’ll be there in 105 to support my family. That family is my little group in 105. It’s all Howitzers. It’s the whole Army. I’d be honored if I might include our players — Diego Valeri and Jeremy Ebobisse and Zarek Valentin and Andrés Flores and all of them — in that family. And today I’m as surprised as you to say it includes ECS and Gorilla FC.

But I’m heartbroken to say that, today at least, it does not include the Front Office, and it certainly does not include MLS (and probably never will). I’m there tonight to amplify voices that need amplification, because I have a loud voice (literally) and, as a tall white man, I have a loud voice. That voice has been co-opted in the past by Timbers and MLS for marketing; as “atmosphere” for selling tickets and raising prices. That’s not what this voice is for: This voice is to support our players. To yell to the rafters a message of love and support and welcome. To scream my support for any symbol that invites everyone in, whether it’s fucking “political” or not.

If it’s decided tonight that silencing our own co-opted voices sends the right message, I’m in. If we have to kill the “atmosphere” at the expense of our players, but really in support of our players, I’m in. In many ways, we’ve become the product that’s being sold — that is still being marketed, even today — and that’s ok to a point, but not tonight.

“Our sunlight is not for franchise.”

Noise

Jennifer Ingraham — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 15:33:36 GMT

Dear Timbers and MLS,

When you ban a symbol that stands for resistance to oppression, you are siding with the oppressors.

Everything else is just noise.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Wright

The value of a customer

Jennifer Ingraham — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 00:27:37 GMT

The following is a post by Mike Coleman.

In Sheba’s excellent blog post, she made a point to discuss the inherent conflicts that can arise from business decisions. I’d like to expand a bit on that and focus on the value of a customer, and why I think MLS and the Timbers are taking some customers for granted while inflating the value of others.

All businesses are built on serving customers, and every business has a variety of customers it’s looking to satisfy. While it may hurt someone’s feelings to hear this, not all customers are created equal. Which customer you value depends entirely on how you want to run your business: Do you want a few customers who shop infrequently but make expensive purchases? Or do you prefer low margins that are offset by a higher frequency of purchases?

At the risk of offending people, at the end of the day each one of us is a customer of MLS. Some of us buy official gear, we watch broadcasts, we visit the web properties, and we attend matches.

In a Yahoo! Sports article today, MLS President Mark Abbot said: “The prohibition on political signage is in place to support the overwhelming majority of MLS fans who come to our stadiums to enjoy a great soccer game ... All of our fans and supporters are important to us and we will continue to engage with them to ensure that we deliver an incredible experience for all.”

I’m going to make a quick aside here that’s not really in the vein of the rest of this post: If you say all fans — and that includes fascists, bigots, and Nazis — you can GTFO right now (and based on what we’ve seen in some stadiums, apparently it does).

MLS is giving equal credence to all fans, but that’s a mistake, because there is a subset of fans — I’ll call them supporters — who are more important to the club than MLS apparently understands.

Let’s go back to a time before I was even really aware of the Timbers. In 2007, Merritt Paulson, through Shortstop LLC, buys the Portland Beavers, and he also gets the Portland Timbers in the deal. Look at that name: Shortstop. Does that name scream, “I am buying a soccer team!”? I can’t pretend to know the true intentions, but that name ...

In any case, Merritt has often said that he was warned about the Timbers Army after buying the club. To his credit, however, he recognized the Timbers Army as an incredible asset. He saw that the atmosphere was just the strategic advantage he needed to draw customers to his new soccer club.

In the end, Merritt goes all in on the Timbers and makes the push to go to MLS. And, who’s his biggest ally in this endeavor? The Timbers Army. People literally quit their jobs to volunteer on MLS2PDX. They showed up at all the council meetings. They lobbied business leaders. They gave everything they had to bring the club they loved to the highest level.

So, the Timbers are headed to MLS, and the Front Office decides they need an awareness campaign to reach people like me; people who didn’t even know the Timbers were still around. Who do they feature on those billboards? The Timbers Army. The same people who volunteered hundreds, if not thousands of hours, helping them reach this point.

“It takes an army to raise a club.” In-fucking-deed.

From my limited history, it really feels like bringing the Cascadia clubs and their supporters into MLS really was an inflection point. MLS featured the Timbers Army, ECS, and Southsiders in all kinds of promotional materials. The sold the league on the backs of the supporters who created an atmosphere unlike anything else in the US and Canada.

I am unsure what MLS would be today without the ability to trade on the work of its supporters. I can tell you this: We’d not have an MLS club today if it weren’t for the work of those Timbers Army members.

But now the league has grown; it has “matured.” Look at the pricing for the new sections added to Providence Park: $3750 for a seat in Tanner Ridge. The cheapest seats in the new section are $1150, making them more expensive than most other “normal” seats.

And who bought those seats? A lot of them went to sponsors and local businesses. These people are the ones who just want “to enjoy a great soccer game.” But, the game isn’t just the 22 men or women on the pitch. No, not even close.

These people also come for the circus. They come for the smoke, the songs, the tifo, the drums, the passion — they come for the same things that still brings goosebumps to my skin and tears to my eyes on a regular basis.

The Timbers have been sold out since 2011, and the Thorns absolutely CRUSH the attendance numbers for women’s soccer teams — and quite a few men’s teams as well. But it’s not because we always field great teams (at least in the case of the Timbers). Why did people still show up when the team wasn’t doing great? Because they wanted the party that the supporters provide.

So, which customer is more valuable? The company that buys four seats in Tanner Ridge to impress their clients? “Hey, Mortimer. Check out the Timbers Army.” “By golly, Randolph, those kids are absolutely bananas!” The folks who sit there to watch the dancing bears as it were?

Or is it the dancing bears themselves? Is it the supporter who doesn’t have $15,000 to write off as a business deduction? They have to save to pay for their tickets — and save they do. And they show up. They show up when the club is winning, and they show up when the club is losing. They show up at their local stadium, and they show up in stadiums across the country. They show up in the downpours, and they show up brutal summer heat.

Rain or shine supporters.

And, let’s be clear: Customers like Mortimer and Randolph are usually pretty easy to deal with. They don’t rock the boat. They don’t ask for much. They want their soccer games fun, devoid of any pesky politics.

They, along with MLS and the Timbers apparently, want us to shut up and sing.

But us? The supporters? We’re not easy to get along with sometimes. We know that this is more than a game, and that the Timbers and Thorns can be more than just clubs. And, we’ll hold the Front Office’s feet to the fire.

I’ll bet any amount of money that if the supporters were to go away and take that beloved atmosphere with them, you’re going to have a much harder time getting Mortimer and Randolph to shell out their money, because you no longer have a differentiated product to sell them: You have a homogeneous corporate sporting event no different from any other league in this country.

Because the clubs and MLS don’t deliver an “incredible experience for all” — the supporters do.

Sunshine, the Iron Front, and the question of "What next?"

Jennifer Ingraham — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 19:06:44 GMT

The following is a post by Jack Davis.

What should I do?

Let me begin by stating that I have no right to tell any member of the 107IST what to do. While I am a member, I haven’t really volunteered and I don’t stand in the TA/RCR section. I have met a few of you through various means and interacted with more via Twitter.

Nor am I a member of a group targeted by right-wing nutjobs. I am as WASPy as they come – a straight, white male. I have blue eyes and blond hair for goodness sake. I know I am not a direct subject to the fear and trauma that permeates the discussion around fascism, antifa, etc. At best, I am a tangential member of the TA/RCR community; at worst, a privileged bystander.

So I realize that I have no credibility to guide or advise anyone here. Stipulated. You are free to ignore my thoughts on the key question of the day:

What should I do?

Like many, I am struggling with the options. None of them are really good or satisfying. Boycott? Don’t spend money in Providence Park? Protest sponsors? Give up the Timbers and/or the Thorns? Take up a new hobby? Raise money for select charities?

Realistically, none will be that effective in moving the vast machinery of MLS owners. I keep mulling over the pros and cons of giving up something I love for the cause and wondering would it really change things?

Well, FUCK THAT.

I may be on the fringes of the TA/RCR, but, dammit, I love what this group stands for and creates. And I am not alone. There are thousands of people like me that participate in the PTFC chants, that wave their scarves during OUR national anthem, but for whatever reason don’t stand in the North End. As the tifo said regarding Providence Park, “This place is magical.” And we ALL feel it, no matter where we stand.

I remember several years ago when I told my daughter the story of the Sunshine Goal and Timber Jim, and why “You are My Sunshine” is sung at the 80th minute. She doesn’t even like soccer, but it touched her deeply. She immediately felt the love and support that this community generates. She loves the artistry of the tifos and two-sticks, and she sees a place where all are welcome. My other daughter (the one who plays soccer) sees the Thorns demonstrate daily that women can dominate, be strong, and be celebrated by crowds that most MLS teams would envy. They see every week in the stands and on the TV a raucous, fun, welcoming, politically astute, giving community.

That is what is at stake here: Community.

I know from meeting some of you and interactions on Twitter that for so, so many the TA/RCR is home. It is a place of welcoming, safety, and friendship. It’s a home that so many want and need, and may not even recognize it. But more, it’s a role model for the world, and it shows that practicing diversity, humor, decency, and radical inclusion is the best defense against fascism.

So, what should I do?

I’ll tell you what I want to do: I want to reclaim our heritage. “They” don’t get to define us. I want to reclaim the narrative and put MORE LOVE out into the world. More humor. More wit. More singing, rainbow flag-waving, more support, and more sunshine.

That’s not to say that we stop fighting, protesting, or arguing for what we believe. The stakes are too high. But while doing so in each of our own way, remember to put positive energy into the universe. Defend this place! Because people need it — and others need to know it’s out there.

I need it. My daughters need it, and those we oppose need to see it.

What next?

Be a beacon. Be a symbol. Get stuck in.

I intend to do more. Let me know how I can help.

Thanks,

Jack
@Lumberjack_pdx

Nothing personal. It’s just business.

Jennifer Ingraham — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 01:08:15 GMT

The following is a post from Sheba Rawson.

I have been struggling to come to terms with what has happened between the supporters I love and the front office of the team I love. How did we get to this place? Why are we in such a contentious space — all over a flag with a circle and three arrows on it?

On its face, it seems absurd. As a 107IST board member since 2011, I’ve had the privilege of working with the same small core of front office members. Over the years, we have had a mostly positive working relationship. They are good humans; I believe that on a personal level they do generally share our ethos in the sense that I firmly believe they are opposed to racism, fascism, white nationalism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia. And given the current political climate, I’m sure they agree, generally speaking, that there are horrifying things happening out there in the wide world that they oppose. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ folks, immigrants, and people of color are on the rise. Children are being separated from their parents at the border and put in cages under horrific conditions. Hate groups march in our very own streets. They agree that a philosophy that relies on nationalism, racism, rejection of the other, and silencing of dissent is abhorrent. And yet they refuse to let us fly a flag that is the very symbol of resistance to those beliefs.

How did we get here?

As I reflected and tried to wrap my brain around it, I thought about the working relationship we as 107IST board members and the front office have had over the years. It has mostly been positive and productive, especially when we focus on things that we both have in common: We want the men (and since 2013, the women) on the pitch to be successful, and we both care about the community. When we focus on those things, we generally get a lot done. Look at the front office work with Operation Pitch Invasion. Look at the space we have built, grown, and preserved over time in the stadium to provide passionate support for our teams, with smoke, tifo, drums, trumpets, and flags. These things work best when we are of common purpose. We are extremely grateful to have such a positive working relationship. It allows both the club and the supporters to work together toward unprecedented success.

Then I thought about the times we have had our run-ins. The time very early in our MLS history that the front office sold a front office scarf with “No Pity” on it. The time that people popped flares in Rio Tinto and received match bans at home, while at the same time MLS used a picture of the spectacle in the stands in their marketing. The time several years back when the front office briefly floated the idea of carving out a slice of the North End to be reserved seats. The time a couple of years back that a front office line of clothing came out with a couple of items that looked uncomfortably close to items from our own No Pity Originals line.

And then it hit me: Nearly every time we have gone sideways with the front office, it is because — even though we both love our teams and love our town — there are times when we do not share common purpose.

Our purpose is to be the greatest football supporters the world has ever seen. We support soccer in and around Portland, from the grassroots to the highest professional level. And we support Team, Town, and Timbers Army & Riveters.

But the teams themselves — the Timbers and the Thorns — are businesses. Their purpose is to operate in such a way so that they can remain in business.

These purposes do not always align. Each purpose has merit, and often, the two overlap in wonderfully satisfying ways. But sometimes, as now, they do not.

I am grateful for their existence: If they hadn’t been here when they were, the USL Timbers might have ceased to exist. Their purpose — and there is no shame in their freely admitting this — is to make a profit.

And you know what? Sometimes that purpose is at odds with ours, which is totally normal and to be expected. There will always be times when a business owner or business group sees a way to maximize short-term profits that may or may not coincide with the interests of the people who frequent that business. That is when we as supporters feel the rub, and that is when we get into hard spaces that we have to work our way out of in order to get back to the strong, solid, common ground we have, which is supporting the teams and the town.

When I thought about it THAT way, it strangely hurt a lot less.

This isn’t personal, Sheba. It’s just business.

The most obvious evidence of this when it comes to the Iron Front symbol is that it is perfectly acceptable to wear on one’s person in the stadium, just don’t fly it on a flag or hold it up on a banner. The official statement Monday made this point crystal clear to me:

For obvious reasons banners and signs are widely visible to the broader stadium and television audience and thusly fall under a different set of guidelines.

“Obvious reasons.” What could those “obvious reasons” possibly be?

There’s only one answer: television audiences. You can’t easily discern the Iron Front logo on a T-shirt on your TV screen at home or at the local sports bar, but you can definitely make it out on a 9x12 flag waving in the stands.

And when you think of it that way, all the rest of the noise falls away. Clearly, the front office and/or the league has decided that it is bad for business to have the Iron Front image visible on TV. What led to that decision? Who knows. Maybe some right-wing owner or league business partner saw the flag waving in some B-roll of the Timbers Army used in some MLS commercial and vaguely remembered it from some Fox News scare piece he’d seen. Maybe somebody pointed it out to some owner or league official when Seattle folks got booted for flying their “Anti-Racist, Anti-Fascist, Always Seattle” banner in Vancouver awhile back. Whatever the reason, sometime between 2017 and 2018 somebody with money saw that flag flying in our stands, and they didn’t like it. And at that point the league, and by extension our front office, had to make a business decision — and that is exactly what the Iron Front flag ban clearly is.

Here’s the thing about business decisions: They are usually gambles, based on predictions of how the market will react. I don’t envy business people. They have to make tough calls all the time. Will the public buy more of our product if we do x as opposed to y? How much should I invest in the business in the short term in hopes of yielding a bigger return later? Is this the right price point? How do I appeal to the widest audience?

Here’s the other thing about business decisions: If they look like they are wrong, you can always reverse them, because they aren’t actually based on moral principles. They are based on what is best for the bottom line. And again, there is no shame in a business admitting that this is what they do.

Once I thought of the Iron Front decision in this light, it was a lot easier to think it through. The decision to not allow the flag to fly didn’t have to have anything to do with deeply held moral values (though I do believe the individuals working in the front office hold strong, positive moral values): This was about the bottom line. Someone somewhere thinks that flying the Iron Front flag is bad for business.

And if that is true, then our course of action is also clear.

Look, I LOVE working with the front office on behalf of supporters. Our front office is TREMENDOUS to work with. They have afforded us opportunities that few supporter groups can claim. Opportunity to set up pretty complicated riggings for tifo. Smoke. Drums. Trumpets. Capo stands. And, most importantly, a good-sized chunk of the stadium that is general admission, which allows for new folks to be welcomed in with friends, to learn chants and song alongside more experienced people, to learn to love the game alongside its most ardent supporters, and to become Timbers Army and Rose City Riveters. To Get. Stuck In.

So. YES. THANK YOU, front office, for being a tremendous business partner to work with.

But you know what?

We are pretty fucking tremendous SUPPORTERS to work with.

We provide the front office with the most organized supporters the league has ever seen. Other front offices from around the league and even in other major league sports come to us to ask how to get the kind of supporters our front office has. We are legion. We are passionate. We are dedicated. We are inclusive. We get it done — in the stands and on the streets. Our support is second to none.

And you know what? We are GOOD FOR BUSINESS. And that is okay with me ... as long as it also aligns with our ethos and with our mission.

Here’s where I think our front office really went wrong on this one: They simply made a bad business decision. They assumed that a mere symbol on a flag could be taken away with very little business cost from us, in exchange for money, goodwill, whatever it was from whoever in the league or its partners was offended by the image on the screen.

When we get into these tight spots, it is not unusual for one of the folks in the front office to shout in exasperation something like: “Would you like to be working with [horrible MLS ownership group] instead?” And my (usually unstated) response is: “No, of course not. Would you rather be working with [horrible MLS supporter group] instead?”

And if this is a business decision with which we disagree, our course of action is simple: Persuade the front office that this is a bad business decision so that they can change course. There are several ways to do this, of course, including refusing to purchase food and beverages in the stadium, refusing season ticket renewals, and the like. These might or might not make a dent in a stadium that has a waiting list in the thousands for season tickets.

But the biggest reason we are such an amazing business asset for this club is our passionate support in the stands.

We joke about being part of MLS marketing. How crowd shots of the Timbers Army are used in ad campaigns for tournaments we aren’t even in. We know that our passion is good for business.

So if our ethos is only worth supporting when it’s good for business, let’s make sure that not supporting our ethos is bad for business. You want to silence us in the stands? Fine. Let’s show them what silence sounds like. You want to reign in our visual displays in the stands? Fine. Let’s show them what that looks like. You want to control the message of those full, raucous stands? Fine. We'll show you what an empty stand looks like. I’m pretty sure they won’t like what they see.

I hate that we are having to go down this road. But if this is just a business, we have to treat it like one. And that breaks my heart just a little. I always thought we were Més Que Un Club, but maybe I was mistaken. Come on, Timbers front office. Prove me wrong. Please.

You

Jennifer Ingraham — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 23:33:13 GMT

The following is a post by Patch Perryman.

Take a moment during this first sentence because you’re going to need the extra time to get focused before you read the next sentence very slowly — and deliberately.

This entire disagreement over the symbol with three arrows and a circle is about you.

Yeah, that was harsh. Not really any other way to put it though.

Here’s why this is so.

You’ve been enjoying the matches, activities, and community for however long it’s been. You’ve got your rituals that you follow on your match days. There are people you hope to see in the stadium and long lists of steps you take to have a fun time with the footy.

And now, your go-to routine is getting disrupted ... because of a symbol.

And you know what: It’s not even over a symbol, but over the arguments about a symbol.

You seem to be having a tough time with this whole Iron Front business.

Yeah, a really tough time.

You just wanna enjoy some soccer with your friends and a few drinks. Sure, yeah. That makes sense.

You paid for the ticket, maybe even waited in line for a few hours. Got your favorite place. Same one. Every time.

But after a while, all the flags and the smoke and the singing and the moving around … it’s getting kinda bothersome, right?

Those drums are really loud! Can’t you just enjoy the sounds of the players and maybe hear the announcer?

And those jerks in standing in front! They block your view and are always waving their arms and telling you to get off your phone and they’re interrupting you while you’re texting your friends and family members who couldn’t make it to the game and you just want to let them know that you’re having a great time without them anyway and besides you have a handful of cheap beer and food that’s at least twice the normal price that you could buy outside the stadium so of course you can’t clap or jump because what if you spill it?

And now there’s this whole political speech stuff? “Man, I don’t need that at a match,” you’re thinking.

You know you best of all after all, and you just want to enjoy some footy.

You know what happens when you make it all about you?

You wind up being the only one left when everyone who was looking out for you are gone.

Because every person with an Iron Front statement, stencil, symbol, what-have-you? They’re the ones who consider people other than themselves.

And they are looking out and standing up for you.

Because there are some wealthy, empowered, connected, very selfish and angry people who don’t want the selfless people to keep standing.

So, while you’re reading and dismissing what’s the best course of action or you’re complaining about how you can’t see the run of play or you’re shouting that the noise about this symbol is making your beer stale or you’re lamenting about whatever you think is making your game day so awful, those powerful folks get louder and scream at the selfless people ordering them to sit down and shut up.

And they aren’t getting supported by you.

Yes, you.

Selfish you.

You, are worth standing up for.

Imagine if You, all of You, were Us?

#AUnitedFront

Home. Church. Family.

Jennifer Ingraham — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:44:24 GMT

The following is a post by Rebecca Liddle Blair.

Home. Church. Family.

We throw these words around between us at Providence Park.
In line culture for our first match of the season, I heard it over and over again.

We’re finally home.
We’re back at church.
So good to see my family again.

Embracing fellow fans and sharing cupcakes, we danced and talked with electricity crackling in our voices. Joking with traveling LAFC supporters passing by and trading stickers and dinner recommendations, we extend our community means even further. “Thank you for traveling,” we say and mean it to our so-called rivals as they move along, pausing our sidewalk games to wave goodbye into the night. Despite our differences, we share a love of the game that transcends 90+ minutes, and we join together when things are bigger than our club, our city.

I don’t quite know how to explain how much it means to me that this community is one of charity and kindness — of acceptance and support for those who are marginalized or need a hand. Being able to pitch in and help others regularly with the supporters groups has returned to me a sense of genuine kindness I thought I had lost along the way. That feeling most certainly encouraged and guided me to move into non-profit work with the queer elder community, those who have endured persecution upon persecution only to trust me on sight and welcome me with open arms and homemade pudding.

As someone who hasn’t really ever felt a part of something, I have struggled to find a sense of home, a belief in church, and what it means to be family. Through this sport and this place and these people, I have started to understand those comforts of the heart that have always been for other people. It’s no surprise, really. Our halls are filled with support and encouragement for our club and our community, giving strength to those who are unsure where they may land.

You are welcome here.
You are safe.
You are protected.

This is what the three arrows mean.
This is what it signifies to someone who is different.

We say we stand together here.
When it matters.
It matters now.

The bottom line

Jennifer Ingraham — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 17:14:25 GMT

The following is a post from Steph Nova.

Hey, Don.

Can I call you Don? I just feel like I’ve become so familiar with you and your spinelessness that I’ll go with Don rather than “Mr. Garber” or some other form of honorific.

I’ve got to admit, I’m curious what led you to decide that it was a great idea to tell people that the Iron Front is banned imagery because it’s considered “political,” yet the league doesn’t disallow folks to go to matches wearing MAGA hats or various political campaign tees.

Actually, I don’t want an explanation, but I do want you to realize this:

By banning the Iron Front and bringing attention to the matter, you’ve caused a tremendous amount of people to look into what it means and why it’s causing such a stir. You’ve opened people’s eyes to a movement that focuses on people being treated fairly and equally in society.

The growing mass of people educating themselves on the history of the Iron Front is directly influenced by you making the call to ban it.

Looks like you shot yourself in the foot there, bud.

Additionally, a lot of supporters have decided to boycott spending money in stadiums and on merchandise related to teams or MLS as those profits go straight to the league as a whole. Not only have you caused people to boycott concession and merch sales in Portland, but you’ve pissed off people in Atlanta and Los Angeles, your biggest cash cows. Whoops.

Guess you shot yourself in the other foot there, too. Dang.

There’s a way out of this, and it is incredibly simple:

Lift the ban on the Iron Front. It’s not doing you or the league any favors to keep attempting to suppress people’s right to express support for equal rights for all.
Withdraw the word “political” from the MLS Code of Conduct. The league clearly picks and chooses when to uphold this particular rule, and as such it should be removed. If you’re going to insist on banning “political” displays, cease all pregame anthems and the inexplicable militarization of patriotism.
Focus on inclusivity within the league. A weak “Don’t Cross the Line” campaign may seem like enough to you, but promoting true inclusivity is a way to make more people feel welcome at matches, more comfortable with joining our various soccer communities, and expands the fanbase (which so many teams desperately need. Don’t act like it’s not important to you to get butts in seats in Carson, Columbus, and San Jose).

This isn’t a difficult hole to dig yourself out of, Don. Edit a couple of words on the code of conduct, treat all people with dignity and respect (unless they’re being hateful jerks, in which case make sure security is fully trained in how to handle those situations), and cease your bizarre crusade against the displaying of the Iron Front symbol.

These are the fastest and most effective way to save face as this issue has been gaining traction worldwide, and it’ll start putting money back in the league’s pocket.

Focus on those profits, Don. After all, the cash is all that matters to you.

I was told ...

Jennifer Ingraham — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 16:46:29 GMT

The following is a post from Sunday White.

I was told…

I was told I could be anything. That was a lie.
I was told that we are the greatest nation. That was a lie.
I was told the world was my oyster. That was a lie.
I was told that some areas were “gang” neighborhoods. That was a lie.
I was told English is our language. That was a lie.
I was told that everyone had the same rights. That was a lie.
I was told that all girls ended up married with a family. That was a lie.
I was told we discovered America. That was a lie.
I was told that all boys were breadwinners and strong daddies. That was a lie.
I was told that the government was here to provide support. That was a lie.
I was told there is wealth for everyone. That was a lie.
I was told that nice girls are virgins and don’t get pregnant. That was a lie.
I was told if I work hard, I could earn as much as another. That was a lie.
I was told that those people on reservations were stupid. That was a lie.
I was told that abortion is killing a human. That was a lie.
I was told that those people working in the fields are illegal. That was a lie.
I was told that illicit drugs required a war. That was a lie.
I was told that girls don't fight. That was a lie.
I was told that we have to help ourselves before others. That was a lie.
I was told we have to “‘save for our future.” That was a lie.
I was told if I was proper then I would be popular. That was a lie.
I was told that those in power were looking out for us. That was a lie.
I was indoctrinated to believe in our melting pot. That was a lie.
I was told that girls don’t play sports. That was a lie.
I was told I had to “pledge allegiance to the flag.” That was a lie.
I was told that America was great. That was a lie.
I was told I had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That was a lie.

This is a short list of the things that as a straight, white, cis female child was told. This is before I realized that none of these provide breathing room for individuality, for humanity.

The “American Dream” has never been real. It has always been a propaganda machine, and it was co-opted by immense need in the war efforts and following depression. Once we started to rebuild, there was a moment where we were deceived into thinking we had grown and were free. That was a lie. It never let go. We have been systematically raped, bullied, and stolen from (personally, as communities, and as a nation) for the entirety of our lives.

We have been intentionally pitted against each other as a means of control. We have been trained through education systems and social training on what “should” be the ideal, with no way to achieve it. We have been force-fed a whitewashed history without ever having the opportunity to hear the truths of what our history has caused and the truths of those that have been trod upon.

Wealthy America is walking on our necks to amass more wealth. They are happy to divide us. They are happy to allow white supremacy take hold. It allows them the ability to control the narrative. This cannot be ignored, condoned, or allowed.

I speak up for the marginalized.
I speak up for minority groups.
I speak up for the future of the people

I wield the Iron Front symbol as a badge and a shield. To support those that need a voice, a shoulder, a place to sleep, a quiet space, a place to scream, food in their bellies, and a sense of belonging and love.

I support the need to stand for human rights. This means that the Iron Front banner needs to fly high — not just in the Pacific Northwest, or Flint, of Ferguson, or at protests — but everywhere that white supremacists think they may have a safe space or a toe-hold. (Hint: That is everywhere.)

In response to this need, I will continue to spread the symbolism and knowledge of the Iron Front and #AUnitedFront to other supporters groups in the world of soccer and to all of the people I know outside of this particular venue. You do not have to be a soccer supporter to care about human rights. This will continue to spread.

In MLS in particular, I ask that you remove the whitewashed shades from your corporate eyes and see that human rights are not a “political” statement. I demand that MLS rescinds its ban on flying the Iron front flag, and allows for supporters groups to show they are a safe and inclusive space. I demand that MLS removes the word "political" from its Fan Code of Conduct, as it is inherently arbitrary. I demand that MLS works with international experts on human rights to craft language in the Fan Code of Conduct that reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination. Their previous attempts at designing a Code of Conduct that is fair, equal, and supporting human rights have failed.

MLS: You don't want to be another lie.

“In full-iron-front glory reflected…”

Jennifer Ingraham — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 16:59:41 GMT

The following post is from John Lawes.

So I’ve been following the tussle here, and elsewhere, about the league and the Timbers FO labeling the “Iron Front” symbol “political speech” and insisting on a ban on organized displays such as flags or tifos of the three-arrows-in-a-circle symbol. And following, as well, the ongoing conversation — largely through the looking-glass-window of social media — about whether this is a good thing (“Politics doesn’t belong in sport!”) or not.

So. Okay. First, politics.

Politics is simply a way of deciding, as Conan gets asked in the movie, “What is best in life?”.

Politics is deciding who gets what, and how, and how much, and when. Politics is involved when you decide to spend your paycheck on a soccer ticket instead of a charity, or a donation to an electoral faction, or giving it to Safeway to give to Proctor and Gamble for some detergent soap … and which kind of detergent soap. You buy “organic” soap rather than “regular”? That’s “politics”: You’re choosing to fund one group of manufacturers and suppliers and distributors over another.

Politics is part of your life. The only way you can separate “politics” from the rest of your life is if your politics are so mainstream that your freedom of action is not constrained by political activity. So, sorry, but insisting that politics and “everything else” be separated is your privilege talking.

So — other than the comfort of not being reminded that your politics are comfortably mainstream and that those of others may be much more precarious — there’s no particular reason to insist that “sports” is politics-free any more than any other aspect of life be politics-free.

And let’s not even get started on sporting events like the Olympics and the World Cup that are positively soaked in “politics.”

Now … you may not like the politics that the other person brings into the stadium, and that’s as much your right as it is anywhere else in the public square. But to argue that a soccer stadium is some sort of magical place where everyone should just forget their political differences and share a big old hug?

C’mon. That’s your comfort talking, and there’s no particular reason that you or I or anyone else has any right to stroll through life in comfort.

The “get politics out of sport” dog won’t hunt.

Now. The “Iron Front”.

Frankly, if you’re going to label one particular set of politics as less desirable than another, the notion of anathematizing the politics of anti-fascism seems on it’s face ridiculous in a nation that still celebrates the fact that it built entire air forces to carpet-bomb fascists and burn their cities to the ground. THAT’s kind of the definition of shoving your politics in someone else’s face, and the U.S. is still gleeful about it.

MLS likes to tout its policies — politics — of inclusion. Well, fascism seems pretty much like the ultimate in line-crossing, so to be against it? That would seem about as safe a sort of political activity within an MLS venue as any imaginable.

So why the fuss? Could it be that in this country, right at the moment, there are certain people, or groups of people, who may be becoming … let’s be polite and call them just “fascist-curious”?

And that they’re making a fuss about the three-arrow symbol because it’s a way of reminding them about the whole “8th Air Force” thing and how fascist-curious is not just a spit in the face of that history, but pretty much a flat-out betrayal of the promises made by the whole American Experiment? That being anti-fascist is to support the fundamental premise of the best ideals of this nation, that all Americans deserve equal justice under law, not just the ones that meet the fascist criteria of inclusion?

Every time we go to a match at Providence Park we go through the ritual of reverence for a hank of cloth and a reworded cover of “To Anaecron In Heaven.” Damned if I know why we pick the occasion for that; a meaningless sporting event seems like an odd venue to celebrate the politics of nationalist pride. But we do, and it seems like MLS has no problem with that.

But if MLS has no problems with those politics, how can it have problems with then celebrating the symbol of a political ideal that is based on the idea of fighting against the very sort of politics that would seek to destroy the ideals of that cloth and that song? Doesn’t seem to be a very coherent way of thinking to me.

So as far as I’m concerned, you go on to the soccer stadium and get some flag out there, Iron Front.

Me and the boys of the 8th Air Force got your back.

An Open Letter to Merritt Paulson

Jennifer Ingraham — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 18:09:45 GMT

The following is a post from Shane Mount-Rubenfeld.

Hi, Merritt.

I’m going to presume you’re generally up-to-date with the broad aftermath of the Iron Front ban, which was awkwardly passed down from MLS HQ by your representatives. Perhaps you’ve read a few of these recent TA blogs. You have likely seen videos of white supremacists harassing and assaulting Sounders fans before their August 4 match in Seattle. I would hope you have also been made aware of the expressed intentions of Washington-based white supremacists and their pals to attend and cause trouble at Timbers matches.

Portland’s fascist incursion is not a new problem: we live in a space sculpted by a century and a half of white supremacist public policy. Violent exclusion of minorities is a theme that runs from anti-Black territory law enshrined in the state constitution, past the unpunished massacre of Chinese workers in the late 19th century, past the Vanport displacements in the aftermath of WWII, past the murder of Mulugeta Seraw and the infestation of neo-Nazi skinheads in the 80s, to today’s sharp rise in hate crimes statewide. This story is still being written, and we are all currently playing a role in it via our individual and collective responses (whether passive or active) to both a nationwide and a local increase in racist organization.

Merritt, we cannot place a high enough value on the unity the club has shown with the TA and the Riveters in our mutual efforts to make Providence Park an intentionally welcoming place to populations that too much of our country tries to exclude. For many supporters, this commitment to radical inclusiveness — more than goals, players, or trophies — is what cements our love for and loyalty to this club. This means not being passive allies, but proactive ones, as you were in 2013 when the Timbers and Thorns organizations publicly supported the drive for marriage equality. Then, you knew that standing in defense of human rights — which is an inherently political act in the face of those many who would use the power of the state to deny them — is worth defying the disingenuous "stick-to-sports" mantra of any who want their sports experience (not to mention commercial interests) to reflect and maintain a status quo of inequality. A similar moment is at hand.

I hope you will recognize that league- and club office-produced boilerplate is not enough to repair the damage that has been done to this relationship. Supporters of these clubs deserve to hear from you directly, and I urge you to make an opportunity to communicate with us in a personal way as soon as possible.

I’m confident no two supporters’ lists of questions for you would be identical, but there certainly would be some major themes. Here’s what I would like to know:

Do you support MLS’s specific ban of the Iron Front symbol?

If so, why? If not, then why did you extend this enforcement to non-MLS matches held in Providence Park despite the lack of similarly specific demands from NWSL and USL?
Do you believe that the league performed adequate due diligence or allowed an appropriate level of debate before handing down the ban on this symbol, and especially before making an explicit equation of antifascism with self-proclaimed white supremacist and fascist organizations?
Do you have confidence that the officers of the league are capable of judging “political’ symbols from “non-political”?
Relatedly, how do you resolve the league’s blanket ban on political expression, and your office’s public statement that “the Stadium should be a politics-free zone,” with the performance of the national anthem and the display of the flag of the United States before every match?
What are the possible sanctions from the league toward a specific club or club’s ownership making a public statement against this ban? What are the possible ramifications of failing to enforce the ban?
Do you have confidence in Portland Police Bureau's preparedness and willingness to counter the threat of white supremacist violence in the city in general, or in proximity to Timbers and Thorns games specifically?

The Iron Front symbol is a visible representation of the best values of the TA and the Riveters. It is a declaration that we will not tolerate hatred in this space that you have helped make so special for our clubs, our city, and us supporters. I beg you to loudly advocate for us to the league as a whole until it agrees to:

rescind its ban on flying the Iron Front flag,
remove the arbitrary word “political” from its fan code of conduct, and
work with international experts on human rights to craft language in the fan code of conduct that reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination.

Sincerely,

Shane Mount-Rubenfeld

The contradictory labeling of what is a "political" display

Jennifer Ingraham — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 21:37:34 GMT

The following is a post by Eric Sorenson.

From the MLS Fan Code of Conduct:

Using (including on any sign or other visible representation) political, threatening, abusive, insulting, offensive language and/or gestures, which includes racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist or otherwise inappropriate language or behavior.

It’s easy to gloss over at first glance, but one word stands out in sharp contrast to the other descriptors with a closer reading:

Threatening.
Abusive.
Insulting.
Offensive.

Political.

Racist.
Homophobic.
Xenophobic.
Sexist.

Political.

The other words have definitions that are commonly understood, even if they have some leeway for interpretation: Reasonable people can disagree about whether the f-bomb lyrics in our chants are “offensive” (or are they merely “insulting”?), but everybody knows that someone yelling n-words or “p*ta” deserves a ban — and, arguably, a beatdown to boot. But what about “political”? League commissioner Don Garber explained further in an interview with ESPN:

GARBER: Our stadiums are not environments where our fans should be expressing political views because you then are automatically opening yourself up to allowing counterviews. Then we're getting into a situation which is unmanageable and really not why the vast, vast majority of fans go to games. We just saw some research that was done where the vast majority of fans do not see sports events as environments that should be driven by politics. They want to go to a game and experience it and participate in a game without having to be confronted by issues that might make them uncomfortable.

ESPN: But where you do draw the line, though? What if someone walks in with a Make America Great Again hat? Is a rainbow flag considered a political statement?

GARBER: A rainbow flag is not a political statement. In this case, the Iron Front is a political organization.

Clear now? An expression of the desire for equal rights, fought for by marginalized people, and subject to back-and-forth legislation, lawsuits, and hate crimes ... isn’t political. I’m being sarcastic, of course: Garber’s statement is absurd on its face. It doesn’t even pass the bar he set in his previous sentence: “… they want to go to a game without having to be confronted by issues that might make them uncomfortable.” The LGBTQ+ advocacy via fan displays, league events, and player outreach during Pride month makes some people extremely uncomfortable — as a memorable example, recall Jaelene Hinkle’s refusal to wear a Pride jersey for the USWNT.

The 107IST organization eloquently stated that, contra Garber, the Iron Front flag is representative of human rights, rather than a political organization, platform, party, or candidate. The most common counter-argument goes like this: “That may once have been its connotation, but the usage of the flag by violent groups today has poisoned it beyond the point where it can be shown without invoking that association.”

However, this is also an inconsistent: The exact same can be said for the United States flag, which has been co-opted by violent right-wing groups who literally wrap themselves in the US flag as they attempt to provoke violence.

Indeed, much of the debate about what constitutes a “political” display completely ignores the most blatantly political display in sports: the military honor guard flag presentation and singing of the national anthem. These don’t figure in the calculation of political speech because they are part of the tradition of what Jean-Jacques Rosseau termed the “civil religion”: a set of religious-style rituals and beliefs that are aimed at glorifying the state (rather than a supernatural / deific entity as in non-civic religions). The American civil religion elevates the anthem and flag ceremonies to sacred status. This process is so woven into the fabric of our society that most people don’t even think of these as being political acts, until something disrupts the ritual and reveals the implicit belief system underneath it. The backlash to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest was intensified precisely because of this religious association: He (and Megan Rapinoe, for that matter) was not just making a statement of opposition to the political status quo, the protest also amounted to heresy against the civic religion.

So, clearly, some political displays are welcome at MLS events; Garber’s explanation that they are “not environments where our fans should be expressing political views” is logically indefensible. This is why we have a very simple set of requests for the Timbers front office and the MLS organization as a whole:

MLS rescinds its ban on flying the Iron Front flag.
MLS removes the word “political” from its fan code of conduct as it is inherently arbitrary.
MLS works with international experts on human rights to craft language in the fan code of conduct that reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination.

I found the addendum to the Code of Conduct!

Jennifer Ingraham — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 16:27:35 GMT

The following is a post by Nate Dinsdale.

I came across the following memo left on a CVS copy machine downstairs from MLS headquarters in midtown Manhattan. Thought I’d share.

Iron Front Signage Policy Addendum

Following a recent meeting with The Don, long-time MLS owner and noted massage enthusiast Bob Kraft, as well as representatives from prospective diamond-level sponsors Chick-Fil-A, Juul Labs, and Hobby Lobby, we want to close the loop on the Iron Front dialogue while also expanding it with a clear written message you can share with the [INSERT SUPPORTERS GROUP NAME HERE].

Rule #1

The Iron Front iconography — originally created by those resisting the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (or “Nazis” for short) — is an anti-fascist symbol that has clearly been appropriated by anti-fascists amid the current rise of what a casual observer might call “fascism” in the national discourse.

But there are very fine people on both sides. And after checking our Suggestion Box at the MLS corporate wine mixer in Orlando over the All-Star break, we’ve learned that the symbol causes some discomfort when displayed by anti-fascist, anti-racist, pro-equality supporters groups like the [INSERT SUPPORTERS GROUP NAME HERE].

As a result, we will be enforcing strict punishments for any Iron Front tifo, two-sticks, or other coordinated displays, starting with multi-game bans for violators.

The recently revised MLS Fan Code of Conduct clearly states:

Using (including on any sign or other visible representation) political, threatening, abusive, insulting, offensive language and/or gestures, which includes racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist or otherwise inappropriate language or behavior

And what is more “political” than a symbol of resistance against racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist language or behavior?

We’re glad you asked. We would like to use this opportunity to provide additional clarification on other symbols that could be considered political and thus subject to the Iron Front Rule:

Rainbows

To be specific, any flags, pins, signs, patches, ribbons or other visible markings that include the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple in sequential order. While this may appear to some as a symbol for inclusion vis-à-vis the LGBTQ community, it can be seen as exclusionary of those who do not subscribe to basic human equality or care to develop an acute appreciation for Judy Garland. Plus, it’s a possible affront to the color-blind who may experience confusion by all those flags sporting multiple hues of gray. BANNED

Peace Sign/Dove + Olive Branch

It may seem ubiquitous, but the peace sign (☮) is anything but harmless. Its association with leftist counterculture movements and people who say “Military Industrial Complex” like it’s a bad thing could prove divisive. As for doves, well, they’re basically elitist pigeons. BANNED

Fists

The image of a clenched fist has come to represent solidarity, particularly for progressive activists, blue-collar workers, and people with higher levels of melanin than your average Norwegian. But it can also be construed as a signal of aggression and/or support for different forms of impolite resistance. Plus, our research intern came across some pretty unsavory definitions of “fisting” on the internet. BANNED

Sunflowers

These audacious botanical marvels remind us of our childlike innocence before it was traded for some TAM and GAM. And we recognize that sunflowers have become a deeply heart-warming symbol for certain supporters groups. But they do require a substantial amount of water to be properly cultivated, and we’re thinking about the environment here. Maybe a nice non-threatening air plant or neutral-party cactus instead? Plus, there could be cultural appropriation claims pending from Sporting Kansas City. BANNED

The Color Pink

Or “salmon,” depending on your Crayola set of references. In the past, pink symbolized breast cancer awareness, but then we focus-grouped it and discovered that some customers find it’s not particularly intimidating on a kit. In addition, there’s a potential gender discrimination suit given many of our middle-aged male fans also have what a clinician might reasonably classify as “breasts.” But it’s far from us to adjudicate whether this is because of natural physiology or from regularly succumbing to the new Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich at Chick-Fil-A. BANNED

MLS Presents The #DontCrossTheLine Campaign Sponsored by Continental Tires

Now we’re talking about a real, meaningful call for social change. PLUS, for a limited time you can stand up against bigotry and get $50 off your next set of radials when you tag your social posts #MLSworks #TIREDofRacism. ALLOWED

We hope this clarifies the issue. As we often say, we won’t always agree but we will always be open, honest, and respectful. We have a track record of being cooperative and working with [INSERT SUPPORTERS GROUP NAME HERE] on a variety of potentially divisive issues that together we have resolved in a positive and peaceful way. It is our sincere hope that this is another case of just that.

Timbers Front Office: Do the right thing.

Jennifer Ingraham — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:53:49 GMT

The following is a post from Jonathan Everett.

The Iron Front was used by those who opposed the rise of fascism to cover up swastikas during the 1930s in Nazi Germany. The origins are well documented. These origins speak to anti-fascism and anti-racism. These ideas are not about politics, but about ethics.

MLS is now telling us that they believe that the Iron Front flag with its three arrows is too political to be flown at soccer games. Ironically, these games benefit dramatically from the efforts of the best players all over the world, regardless of race, religion, or creed. For MLS to say that they’re happy to accept the fans’ enthusiastic dollars to see their favorite international players — but not be willing to stand up to ensure the rights of those players’ fellow citizens is timid at best and criminal at worst. My disgust is palpable, and yours should be too.

It was just over two years ago that two people were murdered in Portland for defending young Muslim girls on the MAX. It was less than two years ago that a girl was killed by American Nazis in Charlottesville. The people responsible for those murders were groups chanting “blood and soil” and “Jews will not replace us.” These acts were racially driven by those whose lives are driven by hate for anyone different than themselves.

In 2019, MLS ruled that they will not allow us to adopt and display the symbol that represents our repulsion of fear and hate. Their ruling is couched in the political mire of current events but ignores the more pressing issue. Their opposition to the symbol is tantamount to condoning the most deplorable actions of those who advocate for murder of anyone determined to be “other.”

I reluctantly accept why a business such as MLS would try to avoid any type of potential controversy; however, denying independent supporters’ groups the right to freely express themselves as being anti-fascist while displaying the logo of such historical importance is disheartening. It is even more frustrating that our own Timbers Front Office would bow to the demands of MLS and be complicit in enforcing these types of rules. History is on the side of respect for humanity, for trying to understand our differences, and for what the Iron Front stands for. If MLS and our Front Office can’t take a stand that being anti-fascist is, in essence, the foundation of morality, then what types of organizations are they? Are they organizations we should stand behind and support?

Will our Front Office freely admit to being hypocritical in disallowing the Iron Front, but allowing St. Pauli to play in Providence Park, while profiting directly from shirt sales with slogans such as “Good Night, Alt Right” with a fist smashing a swastika? Have the times changed so much since last year that a flag with that logo would now be banned in Providence Park? Clearly St. Pauli has an agenda. It is in their fundamental principles, and they recognize that the overall morals of the community should be, and are, directly represented and supported by the Front Office. I wish our club would do the same.

The Portland Timbers Front Office needs to step up and do the right thing. I challenge each of you to join us in our protest against arbitrary rules from a corporate entity who is not on the right side of history; an entity who has chosen to not recognize or respect the collective values of a city it directly profits from.

I unequivocally stand with the 107ist Board and demand the following:

MLS rescinds its ban on flying the Iron Front flag.
MLS removes the word “political” from its fan code of conduct as it is inherently arbitrary.
MLS works with international experts on human rights to craft language in the fan code of conduct that reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination.

Will you stand with me?

Note: Very small credit should be given to Taylor Graham from the Seattle Sounders Front Office for acknowledging that you shouldn’t compare the use of the Iron Front and what it stands for with other political organizations and subsequently be complicit in normalizing an increasingly aggressive right wing.

"Political." You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Jennifer Ingraham — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:05:52 GMT

The following is a post from Paul Atkinson.

The Timbers Army has stood for more than a decade as a force for human rights and radical inclusivity, expressed in our North End antics and our activism in our community and joined in recent years by the Rose City Riveters. This year, Major League Soccer (MLS) published a revised Fan Code of Conduct that contains language that appears designed to excuse arbitrary bans on fan behavior by including a prohibition against “political” signage. The new code prohibits:

Using (including on any sign or other visible representation) political, threatening, abusive, insulting, offensive language and/or gestures, which includes racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist or otherwise inappropriate language or behavior […] [1]

Subsequently the Portland Timbers, as a franchise of MLS, demanded the Timbers Army cease using Iron Front imagery. The Iron Front, appearing as a circle around three arrows pointing down and left, is an antifascist symbol from the 1930s that was designed to be painted over the swastika [2]. The Timbers front office explained this injunction as a fair and even-handed application of the MLS code of conduct. They contend that the policy is not at all arbitrary and that the Iron Front, in its current incarnation as a symbol of antifascism, is banned as political signage.

The Portland Timbers organization also owns the Portland Thorns of the NWSL. Despite the NWSL being unaffiliated with MLS, the organization extended their ban to Thorns matches as well.

The Timbers and Thorns front office does stand with us in supporting our displays in defense of other human rights. Banners and flags celebrating Pride Month are welcome in Providence Park, as are messages decrying racism and welcoming refugees to our city and our nation. We are grateful to have a responsible partner in this.

The ban on the Iron Front stands in jarring contrast.

I understand the arguments of those who say even Pride or anti-racism displays are “political,” but for this purpose I fall back on these simple definitions from Merriam-Webster:

Political: relating to the government or the public affairs of a country. [3]

Human right: a right that is believed to belong justifiably to every person. [4]

It is clear that human rights transcend politics and statements in support are not political. The United Nations has published a list of 30 internationally accepted human rights [5], and UN human rights chief Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein has warned that rising fascism globally and in the United States specifically stands as a threat to human rights [6]. Opposing fascism, then, is a human rights stance and not a political one.

Nationalistic displays, such as the singing of the National Anthem and a military color guard, precede every MLS match in the country. These displays are political and fall under the ban as written. These unquestionably relate to government and, in the case of the military, public affairs as well. A blanket ban on political displays cannot explain how the non-political Iron Front is banned but the political nationalism is not.

I contend that the wrong word was used: MLS wanted to ban controversial speech, which is an inherently arbitrary standard, and tried to disguise it in a way they felt would be more palatable. Only an arbitrary standard explains the capricious and contradictory combination of an Iron Front ban with a league-backed national anthem singer and show of military arms.

Understanding that the policy is arbitrary is important, because then we see that this isn’t a cool, logical application of an unbiased rule but rather a choice. The Timbers organization stands ready to sanction one of two groups. There’s the Timbers Army and Rose City Riveters on their left, supporting the team and standing thousands strong for human rights, inclusion, and antifascism. On their right are racists, white nationalists, homophobes, and the rising tide of American fascism, just as the UN warned us about. The Timbers organization can choose where to draw a line indicating which group they’re standing with, leaving the other isolated. They can’t stand with both, we hope it won’t be difficult for them to choose to be on the side of human rights.

We’re not asking them for much. We want them to unequivocally rescind the ban on any antifascist imagery, including the Iron Front; we want them to work with the league to drop the arbitrary and disingenuous word “political” from the fan code of conduct; and we want them to look to international institutions for help in rewriting that code to promote human rights, inclusivity, and anti-discrimination.

The Timbers Army and Rose City Riveters stand strong in defense of human rights and radical inclusivity. We work to build up both our teams and our community. We stand against white supremacists who have brought violence into our city and whose fascist ideology is a threat to freedom. Faced with an arbitrary standard and the ability to stand with one or the other, I implore the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns to see reason and stand together with us.

References

[1] "Fan Code of Conduct," 01 March 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.mlssoccer.com/fan-code-of-conduct.

[2] "Iron Front," Wikipedia, 09 07 2019. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Front. [Accessed 01 08 2019].

[3] Merriam-Webster, "Definition of political," [Online]. Available: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/political. [Accessed 01 08 2019].

[4] Merriam-Webster, "Definition of human right," [Online]. Available: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human%20right. [Accessed 01 08 2019].

[5] United Nations, "Universal Declaration of Human Rights," [Online]. Available: https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html. [Accessed 01 08 2019].

[6] P. Walker, "UN chief issues warning on the rise of fascism," The Independent, 09 12 2016. [Online]. Available: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/united-nations-chilling-warning-rise-fascism-human-rights-prince-zeid-a7464861.html. [Accessed 01 08 2019].

The Nazis didn’t send centrists to Auschwitz. They sent the anti-fascists.

Jennifer Ingraham — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 15:50:34 GMT

The author of the following post requested to have their name withheld.

If you think of yourself as a moderate, or a centrist, or “not that into politics,” I’ll be blunt: There are people in this country who want me dead — because I’m Jewish.

Two of my grandparents survived the Holocaust. Their families hid from the Nazis because being found meant taking a one-way train trip to Auschwitz.

History seems to be repeating itself. Not because we have an operational concentration camp system, complete with poisonous gas showers and cattle car trains stuffed full of people. We’re not there yet, although we’re headed in that direction.

A sizeable minority of people are openly, vocally calling for every last illegal immigrant, Muslim, Jew, LGBTQ+ person, woman who gets an abortion, black person, and Latinx person executed, jailed, or deported “back to where you came from.”

They’re on 4chan, they’re on Reddit, they’re on websites like Stormfront, they’re on YouTube commenting on videos with titles like “Holocaust Hoax.” Those people are responsible for the murders at synagogues in Pittsburgh and San Diego. Those people are responsible for the martyrdom of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville. Those people are rationalizing the immoral treatment of human beings at our southern border. They haven’t met a body camera video of a cop shooting an unarmed black person that couldn’t be justified.

99.9 percent of them are past the point of reason. Sure, there are heartwarming videos of former KKK members who realized they were wrong, but they’re a slim minority within a minority, and they’re not worth the precious time and energy it takes to reason with.

You still with me? I sincerely hope so, because if you’ve read this far, I think you’re worth reasoning with.

Let’s return to the Holocaust. A lot of people were Nazis or openly collaborated with them. But there were probably many more people who, not being Jewish, gay, Roma, or any other persecuted minority, were safe. All they had to do was keep quiet and go about their business. Never mind that their Jewish neighbor’s business was trashed during Kristalnacht. Never mind that the two middle-aged women who lived in the upstairs apartment — the ones who everyone in your building knew were probably “together” — disappeared one day without warning.

If you were a good citizen in Nazi Germany or any of the places they occupied, didn’t raise your voice in protest, didn’t argue with your collaborator friends or relatives about the human rights of those dirty Jews or gays or Orthodox Christians, then you could survive. You had the luxury of witnessing genocide from a safe distance for no other reason than winning the genetic or racial or religious lottery.

You think they were deporting centrists to the concentration camps? You think the pedants who said things like “Hitler makes some good points, but I do wish he was a bit more civil” were disappeared with bags over their heads in the middle of the night?

They weren’t. But the Communists were. The anarchists were. The anti-fascists were. Because they weren’t splitting hairs over what actually defined a concentration camp. They weren’t clutching at their pearls in fake outrage over the way Hitler referred to the people he wished to exterminate.

The anti-fascists took action — and sacrificed their lives because of it. A family in the Dutch countryside took my grandmother and her siblings in; they were anti-fascists. The men who smuggled them out of Amsterdam while the Gestapo rounded up Jews were anti-fascists, too. They risked everything for people they owed nothing to.

When the Timbers Army flies the Iron Front flag before games, it is a reminder to me that I am safe here. I am surrounded by the sort of people who, were they alive and given a choice in 1941, would have done the hard, scary thing. They would have stood up to the fascists, even if it meant losing everything.

I wish we didn’t have to worry about this. I really do. I wish the people who spew so much hatred and shoot up schools or sororities or synagogues or black churches could find healing and love and hope. That they could see how scapegoating is a way to channel and direct their own frustration and failure and pain towards innocent people.

And being anti-fascist isn’t only about what we are against. It’s what we are for that is equally important: where no one is malnourished, where no one is unhoused, where no one has to decide between paying for insulin or paying for a new set of prescription glasses, where we protect and heal our degraded planet. There is a meaningful place for you in this kind of world.

Until that day comes, the Iron Front is a reminder of what we fight for. It’s a reminder that we must stand together, because not all of us have a choice: we will have to fight, flee, or die. If you have the luxury of being a bystander, I hope you find the courage and moral fortitude to join us.

Those who forget the past ....

Jennifer Ingraham — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 17:59:26 GMT

The following is a post from Rich Ybarra.

I was disappointed to read recently in print media and social media that the Portland Timbers owner and management had taken an active position to silence anti-fascism displays in Providence Park: in particular, the ban against Iron Front displays. I find this to be a particularly ill-conceived position. The last major organization to ban the Iron Front displays and eventually the Iron Front itself was the organization the Iron Front was created to oppose. Perhaps you have heard of them? The National Socialist German Workers Party, more familiarly known as the Nazi Party.

During the Nazi Party’s reign from 1933-1945, they imprisoned and murdered over 11 million Jews, socialists, liberals, homosexuals, gypsies, Christians, and any members of other groups that opposed them or did not meet their ideological standards of race and nationalism. As the primary antagonist in World War II, the Nazis bear a great deal of responsibility for the tens of millions of wartime deaths in Europe during this conflict. All this senseless violence was driven by an ideology of race, nationalism, and totalitarianism. Race, nationalism, and totalitarianism … Man, those ring a bell for me, do they for you?

Our current federal executive has repeatedly made racist statements, has banned entire countries made up of people of color from immigrating, has separated families of POC without cause, and has denied disaster relief to US citizens based on his racism (Puerto Rico), all while encouraging and accepting election interference help from a dictator (Putin) and repeatedly praising the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, leader of a country in which 2 in 5 people go hungry and 400,000 citizens are locked up in internment camps for expressing unhappiness about their leader. He has also praised de facto dictators in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

As a veteran of the Iraq War, I can tell you from experience what it is like to work with people who grew up in a totalitarian state. One example was the manager of a granary and bread factory in Baqouba, a town of 40,000 in which the majority of the citizens were malnourished. He was provided with money to pay his employees, several hundred tons of grain, and a list of local outlets where he was to deliver the bread. For over a month, he did not start production or even call his employees in. When confronted as to why he was not providing for his starving countrymen when he had all the means necessary, he replied, “No one from Baghdad has called to tell me to start operations.” The man had grown up in a totalitarian state and was absolutely mortified of making a decision on his own or taking any kind of initiative.

A second gentleman was from the town of Mosul; he was our interpreter. He was a rare breed, he was fearless to the point of recklessness; one time taking a round to his chest, his body armor was ruined. The man volunteered and went out on another mission the SAME DAY. In a quiet moment, when I asked him why he took so many risks, he simply reached into his blouse and pulled up a golden chain. On the chain was the Star of David: the man was a Jewish Iraqi. He said he would do whatever he had to do to live in a society where one was not persecuted based on their race and beliefs. These are the extremes of human existence, which is what this ideology produces.

I deeply fear that by stifling Iron Front signage, our club are making a safe space for fascism. Fascism is not congruent with our supporter’s culture or our city. At a time when our city and nation are being pressed by nationalism, racism, and fascism, it is not time to cede ground. Now is the time to plant our flag in the ground, stand fast, and do the right thing. This will not be the end of this fight, regardless of the outcome. It will be the first of many instances in which stand together, protect the rights we’ve won, and continue to fight for the rights of the oppressed. This time, this struggle, is bigger than football. But football will be the vehicle which we use to further our cause.

This is not a political struggle, it is a human struggle of good versus evil. As it stands right now, the Portland Timbers and MLS are standing shoulder to shoulder with Nazis. It puts the club we love in a very poor light and it makes my heart hurt to see it so. I have urged them to repeal the prohibition on flying the Iron Front flag, eliminate the term "political" from the fan code of conduct, and work with international experts on human rights to craft language in the fan code of conduct that reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination. You should too.

How the Iron Front Represents Fundamental Change ... For Me, Anyway

Jennifer Ingraham — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 14:38:37 GMT

The following is a post from Greg Donnelly.

I used to be a lot different than I am today.

In just a few short years, I have reconsidered my place in life, those I want to surround myself with, gained new hobbies, questioned my core values, moved to a new city, and, perhaps the most gasp-inducing of all … started enjoying soccer. If nineteen-year-old me were here he’d thoroughly kick my ass. Well, he’d try, anyway. I have about 25 pounds or so on him by now.

One of the things I’ve been exposed to via soccer is the image of the Iron Front. For me, the symbol represents so much more than anti-fascism. Its purpose and what it stands for can be applied to how much I’ve grown as a person. Just as the first circle-and-arrows were used to stamp out the visceral image of the swastika, what it represents can be painted over a part of me that I am glad is long dead. Here’s a little story...

First, I think it’s important to briefly state what the Iron Front is and how it came to be. Don’t worry, this won’t be a history lesson, just a brief summary of its evolution. In its original iteration, its intent was to cover the image of the swastika of Nazi Germany; able to be swiftly painted over them. In the early 1930s, it was used as a type of civil disobedience in defiance of the growing authoritarian and hypernationalist rule of the Nazis. Imagine a no-smoking sign, except the cigarette is a swastika and the red line is the three arrows. It was graffiti used by everyday people, not soldiers, as a way to loudly and peacefully speak up for what they believed in.

Back to my story … I grew up in Los Angeles (yeah, I’m that guy); the majority of my formative years taking place during the 90s. There’s a saying that no one is really from LA, and that’s true for me as well. The city I grew up in, a dozen or so miles away from LA proper, is a mostly white, middle-class, and relatively safe municipality wedged between the disgustingly rich estates of the peninsula, the busy, diverse streets around LAX, the famous beaches, and the LA strip. It was like we were the middle section of the Venn diagram of social inequality. I grew up in a Baptist church (also all white), and was excessively active in ministries, often spending at least a couple hours there as many as four days a week, not including multi-week camps. I was taught to be deeply ashamed of my “sin,” and therefore those who sinned were detestable. We were taught to stay away from gangs, while being in one of the safest cities in the region. My classmates and I watched Cartoon Allstars to the Rescue, most of us never being offered drugs.

It’s not a stretch to deduce that I grew up insulated from many realities of life. I had genuine hesitation and even fear of leaving the boundaries of my turn-key hometown. Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, at least to this young, sheltered, white kid, were dangerous; the dark and cursed forest we were forbidden to enter lest we lose our very lives … That may have been a bit dramatic, but you get the point.

In my early twenties, I began listening to conservative radio. I began to believe the narrative that people crossing the border illegally were taking our jobs. I called them “border-hoppers.” I’ve used the word “beaner,” rationalizing it by saying I’ll call those deserving of the title “white trash” just as easily. I looked at groups of black people sporting baggy pants as potential “gang-bangers,” and would cross the street or take another one entirely to avoid them. I assumed every Latino was Mexican, illegal, and making our country worse. I voted on a measure to define marriage as one man, one woman. I looked at LGBTQ people as the ultimate sinners and abortion as an unforgivable travesty.

The good news is: I didn’t stay this way.

I don’t think I need to go into details about how and why I changed. There was no real “aha” moment. What’s important is that all these things that I am ashamed of — all these incorrect, racist ways of thinking – I’ve corrected. I realized LGBTQ people are just people, no different than I. I know that most migrants are either refugees escaping a life of fear or simply wanting to make their families’ lives better. I’ve stopped using discriminating terms. And I’ve come to believe that all people are deserving of a fair chance at life.

The Iron Front was painted over fascist symbols. It was used to cover the hateful ideology. It pains me to admit it, but those things I once believed in were hateful ideologies. I see the symbol as a stamp covering that horrible person I once was. For me personally, the Iron Front is a symbol of liberation. It means acceptance, tolerance, love, and a defiance of those who stand against these values. I am a better person today than I was all those years ago, and the three arrows encapsulates my transformation into a person I can be proud of.

That’s not political. That’s not ideological. That’s not partisan or an agenda. It’s treating people like people. It’s winning the fight against hate, one person at a time. It’s inclusion. It’s rejecting racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and oppression. The Iron Front reminds me of how I’ve made my life better and, hopefully, others’ lives as well. That’s not political. That’s being a good person.

Rescind your ban on the Iron Front.

The time is now.

Jennifer Ingraham — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 15:14:27 GMT

The following is a post from Nash Drake.

My grandfather was a paratrooper in WWII. He dropped on D-Day, fought through the difficult-to-traverse French countryside, and made it back to his unit and eventually back to England. From there he was sent to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. As the war ended, he was sent to help provide support to an entirely new assignment. He had no idea what to expect when he walked into a concentration camp just a week after it had been liberated. What he witnessed there changed him forever. He refused to speak of it unless he had one scotch too many, and even then, the most he could do was cry and mumble to himself about how he couldn’t tell us about what he saw because he didn’t want us to feel the deep, overriding despair it had brought to him to witness the aftermath of the atrocities that had occurred to millions at the hands of the Nazis. He was adamant that no fascist should be allowed to live their life without being ridiculed, hassled, and forced back into the cracks and crevices that they hid in after being defeated. He passed away nearly a decade ago, but his blood runs through my veins, and what I am calling for is going to be in his voice as much as in mine.

The Iron Front symbol was created to make it clear that fascism was not welcome and that the bearers of it were committed to defending the rights of all humans. Human rights are not political and not up for debate. It’s that simple. MLS has decided to attempt to keep the Iron Front symbol from being flown in stadiums (including making that decision for NWSL) as it has always been, deeming it a political symbol. If they aren’t anti-fascist, they are fascist. Here it is, everyone, the time to decide how you would deal with fascism if you were staring it right in the face.

The things we are asking MLS for are not complicated and support the rest of the MLS code of conduct in regard to human rights and will mark our stadiums as safe spaces for all who wish to gather peacefully:

Rescind the ban on flying the Iron Front symbol
Remove the word “political” from the Fan Code of Conduct
Work with international experts on human rights to craft language in the Fan Code of Conduct that reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination

I will be writing letters, making calls, and taking part in any protests. I will not be spending money in the stadium in any way. I am asking you to join me in these actions.

We are the Riveters and the Timbers Army. We are radically inclusive. We stand against discrimination of any kind. We are on the side of human rights. We are the Iron Front.

Antifascism as Ethos – Siamo Tutti Antifascisti!

Jennifer Ingraham — Fri, 31 May 2019 19:49:00 GMT

The following post is from Eric Blaire.

It was revealed this week that the Portland Timbers Front Office will be engaging in a form of soft censorship around a storied and powerful image flown by antifascists around the globe since the 1930s, the Iron Front. Though the club has spent weeks broadly alluding to a campaign of solidarity with fans who support our club and community under the banner of antifascism, we now see that these empty gestures by the Front Office were a farce and in fact are the beginning of a brewing conflict around so-called political “neutrality” and a community who are on the front lines of confronting rising fascist movements on the streets of our city.

The Iron Front was an explicitly antifascist organization formed by social democrats in late Weimar Germany as a network to combat the rising threat of violent fascist movements who would terrorize Jewish people, trade unionists, socialists and anyone else they deemed a threat to their growing power. It is not a stretch of the imagination to find similarities between the violence and extremist rhetoric of the fascist gangs that marred pre-Nazi Germany and that of the far-right social movements we are witnessing in the media and streets of America in 2019.

It is just two years since Portland watched in horror as avowed neo-nazi Jeremy Christian murdered two heroic bystanders and critically injured a third who had intervened in defense of two young women of color facing his tirade of hate speech and threats. The men did what any decent members of the community must do, act in defense of the most vulnerable against racist threats. They died at the hands of a local fascist (emboldened by his affiliations with regional far-right organizers) in the middle of broad daylight in one of the most progressive cities in the United States. This has been followed by a wave of far-right violence across the country and on the streets of our city, backed by political figures that rather than condemning and confronting hate, are nurturing a politics of xenophobia, homophobia, and racism; or as we see here locally, denying the severity of the threat posed by these fascists. The MAX heroes did not die in vain: Our city united behind the everyday Portlanders standing up against hate, and the antifascist movement in Portland is stronger and more dynamic than ever before. Regular provocations by far-right groups (mainly from outside of our city) have attempted to make Portland into a battleground over the future of America but thousands of community members have come out to shut them down, despite the risk to their lives and personal safety.

And then there is the politics of censorship and threats by the Portland Timbers against fans here in Portland who would stand up to hate and bigotry. Most of us are well aware of the fact that the league has been absolutely incompetent in confronting the situation at New York City FC ignoring the violent neo-nazi members who have attempted to take over the supporters’ crew at Yankee stadium. Neutrality has become a lazy policy of repressing the activities of fans fighting for equality while turning a blind eye to fascists quietly gaining ground on football terraces in other parts of the country and world.

Long before the current owner bought the club, the Timbers Army built a culture of anti-racism, antifascism, and inclusivity. The current pressure coming down from the top tiers of MLS to keep the stadiums “free of politics” is laughable at best, but also sets a dangerous precedent. We are facing repression, stadium bans (from a club that we the supporters have built!) and possible legal troubles for expressing an idea that we are, in fact, antifascist. The idea that MLS, a multi-million dollar enterprise is politically neutral is simply a myth. The profit driven culture poses as a “neutral ground” for a sporting event, but this negates the politics of immigration, race issues, discrimination based on national origin, not to mention the politics of the lives of all the working class people who scan our tickets, cook our half-time snacks, and pick hops for poverty wages so that we can enjoy our beer.

We have had players representing dozens of cultures at our club. Darlington Nagbe came to this country at 11 years old after enduring the life of a refugee in Sierra Leone. Under the current political administration, he may very well have never crossed that line at customs to one day lead the Portland Timbers to MLS Cup Champions. There is nothing politically neutral about racism, homophobia, nationalism, or xenophobia. These are topics that unfortunately appear more and more up for debate in these uncertain times, but when it comes to arguments for and against bigotry, we must be clear that there are not "very fine people on both sides." While it is good that the league pushes for policies of equality with their “soccer for all” campaign, we cannot deny the fact that antifascism is the baseline stance we must take if we want a future that is multi-cultural, vibrant, and successful for our city and our club.

We are living in volatile times, unparalleled in recent history. A study last year revealed that 24 million Americans identify with the fascist politics of the alt-right. 24 million. This is no longer a problem that can be talked about in hypotheticals. Synagogues and mosques are being attacked, immigrant children are dying, and the LGBTQ community is facing attacks even in our "peaceful, liberal utopia" of a city.

The great American historian Howard Zinn once said, “You cannot be neutral on a moving train.” The Timbers front office needs to decide: Will they remain “neutral” despite their stated ethos of inclusion, or will they work hand in hand with the Timbers Army to create a culture of love, solidarity, and antifascism at Providence Park and on the streets of Portland? We will bring a thousand more messages of antifascism to the park, whether sanctioned or banned, because the Timbers Army will always be antifa.

For love of our club, our city, and our community: The time is now. Pick a side.

Announcing a new blog!

Jennifer Ingraham — Thu, 30 May 2019 03:15:00 GMT

Since our inception by the original Council of XI in 2010, the 107 Independent Supporters Trust has been the engine behind mostly one supporters group: the Timbers Army. This meant that a message from, for, or about the 107IST was more or less also from, for, or about the Timbers Army. But we’ve grown over the past nine years. In 2013, we celebrated the arrival of NWSL to Portland — and the formation of the Rose City Riveters.

We’ve been working together in recent years to develop strong and independent voices for each of the entities in our organization: the 107IST, the Rose City Riveters, and the Timbers Army. The Riveters have done an excellent job in ensuring their messaging and “voice” is distinct and represents their supporters group. The Timbers Army and 107IST messaging and voice have remained fairly closely coupled, however. It’s time to fix that.

Eventually, we will have three distinct web presences for the two supporter groups (Timbers Army and Rose City Riveters) and for the nonprofit engine that fuels them both (the 107 Independent Supporters Trust), even though all of us in the 107IST work closely together and many members belong to both supporter groups. But it’s worth it at this point to make it clear which group is speaking and which set of readers we’re trying to reach.

As we continue to roll out changes this year, here’s what you’ll see:

TimbersArmy.org will become the site highlighting news and issues that relate to Timbers, MLS, and Timbers Army.
RoseCityRiveters.org will continue to be the site for the Portland Thorns’ supporters group, highlighting info for and about Thorns, NWSL, and the Riveters.
107ist.org will be the new online address of what you now know as TimbersArmy.org. It will have information from the 107IST about both supporters groups and the organization itself. You’ll want to add this to your bookmarks when it goes live.

As a first step, we’ve created a new blog for the Timbers Army on the current 107ist.org/timbersarmy.org site. Here, we’ll post opinion pieces, articles, and other content that relates specifically to the Timbers Army.

With that, enjoy your first post: an op-ed from member Matt Shields! We’ll have others over the next several days.

RCTID BAONPDX

Member response to updated signage policy

Jennifer Ingraham — Thu, 30 May 2019 02:59:01 GMT

Mr Paulson,

As a 107ist member, as a season ticket holder, and as an Oregonian, I would like to express my concern with the Timbers/Thorns front office’s plans for enforcing the updated MLS Supporter Code of Conduct. I am especially concerned about the decision to permit displays that support a specific political ideology, and which are often used to belittle, humiliate and dehumanize a significant part of our citizenry.

I refer of course to the Timbers/Thorns front office’s continued turning of a blind eye toward the display of the American flag by both supporters and the organization, and to its tradition of performing the national anthem before games.

Let me be the first to acknowledge that the American flag had a long history of standing for many of the values that the Timbers, Thorns, and their fans continue to espouse to this day – especially our shared beliefs in political freedom. However, it has long been obvious that this symbol has been appropriated by partisan political operatives, and that it has ceased to be a symbol of American unity. Today it is, unfortunately, primarily used to advocate for specific political purposes. If the Timbers as an organization are sincere about enforcing the Code of Conduct as written, it is difficult to see how the use of this symbol could be permitted.

It is well documented that not only is the flag used far more often to support candidates of one major political party than the other, but that the flag has been co-opted by numerous far-right political movements in the United States. Groups like Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys, who have frequently incited violence at events in Portland, deliberately use the American flag as a symbol to suggest that other Portland residents are less than welcome.

The American flag is also widely used by militia groups and by anti-immigrant advocacy organizations, not only in their own branding, but as a specific attack on non-citizens. Events sponsored by and supporting immigrant groups are frequently counter-protested through deliberate use of the American flag, again as a statement that immigrants are unwelcome. The national anthem has likewise been staged at events as a specific form of protest targeting citizens and non-citizens alike. We have even seen these hateful displays used in public schools as a form of targeted harassment against both non-citizen children, and those of non-European descent.

In all of these cases, the deliberate message expressed by the use of the American flag and the national anthem is the same: “We are real Americans, and you are not.”

The use of the American flag to attack values of tolerance and inclusion and to specifically support anti-immigrant candidates and their political agenda is widespread and very well known. It would strain credibility to suggest that the American flag is not an explicitly political symbol that is used to express a variety of political – and often overtly partisan – views.

The Supporter Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits “political...or otherwise inappropriate language or behavior.” According to the presumably well considered reasoning expressed by the Timbers/Thorns Front Office in their letter to the 107ist banning the use of Iron Front symbology, it is clear that the continued display of the American flag likewise should not be tolerated, and for the exact reasons that the letter points out:

It is a symbol that has clearly been appropriated by radical elements and often deployed in a context of violence.
It is clearly used as a symbol of politics, is intended to be exclusionary, and is antithetical to the inclusive TA, Riveters, Timbers and Thorns ethos.
Its use raises security concerns that are no different than with the Iron Front symbol.

…But of course…

The truth is that it is not all political speech is targeted by the Supporter Code of Conduct. An enormous amount of signage at MLS games – both by supporters and by the league itself – is unquestionably political and always has been. The real purpose and effect of the rule is not to ban all political speech – it is to allow the league a pretext to prohibit specific political speech that it or its sponsors do not like. It is a content-based restriction, and indeed we have seen so far in 2019 that the league appears likely to use this power to target specific political viewpoints. (And, conspicuously, does not intend to use it to target others.)

The suggestion in the letter that the rule is intended to ban “any signage that’s political” from matches is transparently false, as was essentially admitted when noting, “there is still a fair amount of local discretion teams can apply.” There is no intention to ban *all* political signage, only some of it.

It is undoubtedly true that Iron Front symbology makes some fans uncomfortable, as do numerous other symbols used around the stadium – including the American flag (and those of numerous other countries.) Of course for many fans, and perhaps most, the American flag is a very positive image, symbolizing hope and our aspirations to be better than we often are. As with all political speech, different listeners are going to react to it differently. Our reaction to those differences should be based on our shared belief in freedom of expression, and not to simply ban that speech with which we do not agree.

Major League Soccer is a private entity that may set whatever rules it sees fit. However, the City of Portland has a constitutional obligation to ensure that any restrictions on speech at city owned property are viewpoint neutral and as narrowly tailored as possible to avoid injuring the First Amendments rights of its citizens. The City of Portland does not escape this constitutional obligation when it leases city owned property to a private entity, and Major League Soccer and the Portland Timbers chose to accept this limitation on its management of the space when it opted to run a franchise in a publicly owned stadium.

In framing the question as political v. non-political speech in the Supporter Code of Conduct, MLS has been deliberately deceptive. The Timbers, the TA, the league and you yourself have all routinely engaged in political speech during matches and other events. The team has taken stands on explicitly political issues, and expressed political viewpoints that have made some fans uncomfortable because the team – and you yourself, I imagine – believed it was the right thing to do. I hope that tradition continues, because we should want our civic institutions to stand up for what is right when they can. But make no mistake, just because we agree with a statement supporting our shared humanity, the statement is no less political. It’s just a political statement we agree with.

Today, unfortunately, Major League Soccer and the Timbers seek to prohibit speech with which they apparently do not agree. That is not just disappointing; it is deeply problematic.

I sincerely hope that both MLS and the Timbers’ front office reconsider their decision to ban specific political speech from matches while clearly allowing in others. Such decisions are disingenuous, are counterproductive, and break with the trust of supporters who have helped build the league into what it is today.

- Matt Shields, Section 104

Why Wise Men?

Darren Lloyd — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 14:23:01 GMT

The following on the genesis of "Wise Men" was shared on the now-defunct TA forums by former 107IST board member Jeremy Wright.

We sporadically sang Wise Men starting in the 02-03 seasons. It was an epic trip to Vancouver in I believe 03 that sealed the deal with this song.

Back then our real supporter group rivals were the Southsiders. The ECS/Pod were a complete joke comprised of 8 guys wearing whale hats. Our rivalry with Vancouver was intense. The friendly relationship we enjoy now didn't exist. For about 3 or 4 seasons there was literally some type of incident during the match (the Southsiders loved to come over to our section and taunt us) and always post match either in the stadium or in the woods around us.

That match the Timbers lost once again in Swanguard and some not so friendly Canadians came over to have a go. Instead we chose to raise our scarves and sing Wise Men for literally 15 minutes in an effort to avoid confrontation. We were a small group that day, maybe 15 folks, and knew if we responded to the aggro things would go badly for us. We had beer thrown on us, smoke bombs tossed at our heads and folks challenging us to fights. We raised our scarves higher and sang louder. The Timbers were still on the pitch warming down and greatly appreciated our efforts. We sang until the stadium was empty.

A tradition was born.

107 Independent Supporters Trust Timbers Army Blog

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About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

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Know Your History - Little Beirut

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Announcing the 2024 Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

The U.S. Open Cup Matters … and You Should Care

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Announcing the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

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2023 Home Opener Update from the Timbers Army Tifo Committee

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About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

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Guest Post: Stay In Inquiry

About tonight's Cascadia Cup match

Pyro? No Party

2022 Home Opener Tifo Update

Is this our heritage?

What we built can never be broken

It Takes an Army

What do we do with one more wish?

2021 Cascadia Cup Update

The Cascadia Cup is back for 2021!

Welcome (Back) to the North End!

Announcing Harper's Playground / Spread the Love Scarf and Patch Fundraiser

Fundraiser details

Don't Profit off the North End: Ticketing Edition

Forced assimilation, bicultural identity and the myth of an inclusive TA

If you want to be in the TA...

A mix of anger and straight up disappointment

Justifying bad behavior

The never-ending fight against assimilation and the internal struggle it creates

Gatekeeping in the TA

Who created that energy?

It could have been so beautiful

2021 Cascadia Cup Update

A Statement on Behalf of the Timbers Army Regarding MLSPA and Negotiations with MLS

A New Timbers Army Crest

Announcing the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year!

About the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year Award

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Introducing the Timbers Army Steering Committee

An Update on the No Pity Van

Message from the Cascadia Cup Council

A statement from the Timbers Army

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It was magic. Twice.

This is how the world knows who we are

My Timbers Army antifascist soccer family

"Our sunlight is not for franchise"

Noise

The value of a customer

Sunshine, the Iron Front, and the question of "What next?"

Nothing personal. It’s just business.

You

Home. Church. Family.

The bottom line

I was told ...

“In full-iron-front glory reflected…”

An Open Letter to Merritt Paulson

The contradictory labeling of what is a "political" display

I found the addendum to the Code of Conduct!

Iron Front Signage Policy *Addendum*

Rule #1

Rainbows

Peace Sign/Dove + Olive Branch

Fists

Sunflowers

The Color Pink

MLS Presents The #DontCrossTheLine Campaign Sponsored by Continental Tires

Timbers Front Office: Do the right thing.

"Political." You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Iron Front Signage Policy Addendum