President Donald Trump has repeatedly riled up his base by blasting NFL players for kneeling during the National Anthem. He has even gone far enough to tell owners to fire players that participate in peaceful protests against racial injustice.
One (former) fan of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints has taken the President’s lead, and he is suing the team for their participation in these protests.
The New Orleans Advocate reports that a Morgan City resident named Lee Dragna is suing the Saints for the cost of his season tickets, as well as attorney fees, because their protests against racial injustice and police brutality has prevented his family from enjoying football games.
Dragna claims he has not attended a game since the first home game when the Saints took on the New England Patriots on September 17. The lawsuit claims that several players did not come out for the National Anthem, and that when they did:
“They passed directly in front of where the petitioner and his guests were seated. Many of the fans in that area booed and cursed at the Saints players.”
The lawsuit also claims that:
“Apparently, these players were following the lead of (former San Francisco 49ers quarterback) Colin Kaepernick by disrespecting the flag, the anthem, the USA and those who have served and are serving the USA in our military.”
This is untrue, as players protesting during the National Anthem are attempting to draw attention to police brutality and social injustice.
Dragna claims that fans cursing, spilling beer, and booing players has made it impossible for his family to enjoy the games, as well as anyone else he would considering selling the tickets to. If cursing, booing, and spilling beer are the things that make it impossible to enjoy a football game, then it seems unclear how anyone is able to attend a National Football League matchup.
Mark Ingram, a starting running back for the Saints, had his own take on the lawsuit:
The one time we protested an anthem was an away game. After a team meeting we decided to kneel as one BEFORE the anthem was played and STAND united as one DURING the anthem! Good luck dude ✌? https://t.co/28huwGP0Pu
— Mark Ingram II (@MarkIngram22) December 13, 2017
Ingram claims the team did not even protest at the game Dragna attended.
It seems unlikely this lawsuit will go anywhere, as team performance or decisions generally do not constitute refunds for season tickets.
Below is footage of the Saints after their Super Bowl win during the 2009-2010 season, when they were invited to the White House by then President Barack Obama:
Featured image via White House Archives / Public Domain.
