LOS ANGELES – The Simon Wiesenthal Center‘s (SWC) Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Rabbi Abraham Cooper issued the following statement after the removal of George Norcross fromyesterday’s Philadelphia Eagles game:
“The Eagles owe their loyal fan George Norcross an apology. The NFL and NFL teams have exhibited support for domestic andinternational issues including Black Lives Matter and Ukraine, to name two. The rules of the Philadelphia Eagles state: ‘Signs, banners or similar items that are obscene or indecent, notevent-related, potentially offensive to other patrons, capable of blocking views of other fans or otherwise deemed dangerous or inappropriate by the Eagles are prohibited.’
Draping a US and Israeli flag from a box did not interfere with the field of vision of any fan, is not obscene or indecent,dangerous, or inappropriate. The US/Israel banner did serve to celebrate the unbreakable bond between two sister democracies, especially appropriate after Oct 7th and in light ofsurging anti-Semitism in the US.
Indeed, it is our brave US military personnel currently in the Mediterranean and on the ground who would most appreciate thatbanner. Mr. Norcross should not have been removed and the banner of the two great allies should have remained in place.
We hope that the Philadelphia Eagles will do the right thing.”