The Southsiders, the supporter’s group for the Vancouver Whitecaps, will no longer be organizing bus trips to Portland and Seattle in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order, which bars travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States for 90 days.
In a statement on its website Thursday, the Southsiders Executive Board said that the ban could impact members of its group and that it could not “in good conscience be responsible for arranging or hosting events or experiences which potentially come at the exclusion of some of our members, no matter how few in number those affected might be.”
The group said it wasn’t asking its members to participate in boycotts or protests, but did implore members that did plan to travel to the United States for games this season to “leave your Southsiders scarf at home as a sign of respect for members who cannot cross the border with the same ease and personal freedom as you do.”
The Southsiders Executive Board said the decision was in line with the principles that the supporter’s group was founded on:
Our supporter’s group was founded on the principles of inclusivity, acceptance and respect for all who sought to stand with us. Since our earliest days we have stood for equality, and we have spoken out against racism and bigotry. We have always strived to be the place where everyone feels welcome. We are the place where everyone belongs.
As you may be aware, recent developments in the United States present some very serious and distressing implications for some of our members, both directly and indirectly.
Trump’s executive order bars travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days.
The Whitecaps are scheduled to face the Portland Timbers at Providence Park in preseason on February 15. The Whitecaps will then travel to Portland again on April 22 and October 22.
— Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com
503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg
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