Going into the third group of NWSL Challenge Cup matches, a lot of talk focused on who was returning. International players from the United States, Canada, and European sides came back to America and rejoined their respective teams. Gotham FC’s returning forwards in Midge Purce, Carli Lloyd and Évelyne Viens made a big impact, scoring the team’s four goals in a 4-3 victory over the NC Courage. The club also welcomed supporters back, the most they’ve had since the 2019 season, for their first home match since their rebrand from Sky Blue to Gotham FC. There was a lot to celebrate. Unfortunately, something was missing. A social justice banner, made by Gotham supporters’ group Cloud 9, was removed.
The headlines before Tuesday’s match all focused on a court verdict. Former police officer Derek Chauvin received three guilty counts for murdering George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Leagues, teams, and players responded to the trial’s result. The NWSL, along with the NWSL Players Association, released the following statement:
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) April 20, 2021
In May of 2020, people around the globe responded to his death, and countless others, with protest. Protest that broke into the rest of the mainstream sports world. While the WNBA publicly protested for years, soccer leagues like the NWSL, MLS of the United States, and the Premier League in England joined in through jersey patches saying Black Lives Matter, pre-match demonstrations, and kneeling before the beginning of each contest. Supporters joined the fight too.
Even with limited seating, or no seating at all, supporters’ groups around the country put up banners in their home stadiums, joined marches, and raised money for social justice causes. Cloud 9 was no different. A staple chant of protests is the phrase “No Justice. No Peace.” Gotham’s supporters’ group used that chant as a theme for a banner. Beneath it is another phrase: “Say Their Names.” It’s a line connected to keeping the humanity of the victims instead of just simply labeling them as a victim of police brutality.
At 4:33 pm ET, 30 minutes before a Minnesota judge read three guilty verdicts, Cloud 9 noticed something was missing. Their “No Justice. No Peace.” banner:
Left pic from yesterday. Right pic, today. Tough to see but do you notice anything missing? @montclairstateu deemed our No Justice. No Peace. banner inappropriate & took it down at some point during the day. They also moved the banner that was next to it to cover the hole. pic.twitter.com/xaRVKczbVy
— Cloud 9 (@Cloud9SBFC) April 20, 2021
Beyond Women’s Sports reached out to Cloud 9 about the banner. They received no warning of its removal, with a team representative telling them the school took it down.
On Monday, Cloud 9 posted a photo of the banner, showing their excitement for their home opener the next day. A tweet that Gotham FC quote tweeted, joining in the excitement.
https://t.co/08zn2iqRcB pic.twitter.com/5GYZIdgdaF
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) April 19, 2021
The Gotham banner removed is only part of the surprise. What adds to the shock is that it isn’t new to Montclair University’s Soccer Park. It hung up last year during the NWSL Fall Series. The video below shows it behind then-Sky Blue’s goal, during warmups:
🧱 🧱 🧱 @Kailen_Sheridan pic.twitter.com/md9G5bCwwx
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) October 10, 2020
When contacted, Montclair University provided the following statement to BWS:
“Montclair State University supports Black Lives Matter, and is always engaged in the work of creating an environment that is welcoming to every individual. Here is a link to President Susan Cole’s address to the University community in June of 2020 on this subject.
The contractual agreement between the Club and the University does not provide that the club can post signs at games. When we learned that the signs were posted, we attempted to negotiate but could not reach an agreement. We therefore acted to remove the one sign that in our view raised public safety concerns, given the climate in the country and the impending verdict in the Chauvin trial. We allowed the other signs to remain.”
Upon initial request from the team, they deferred to the school. Gotham has not provided a follow-up to the statement’s mention of negotiation between the team and university.
Its removal, combined with its allowance at prior matches, came at a peculiar time. While the phrase “No Justice. No Peace.” can be interpreted in different ways by different people, behind a locked, ticketed gate, at a family-friendly event isn’t as large of a risk. Silencing the voice of the supporters has long-term ramifications, regardless of a contract allowing it or not.
Even though Montclair University removed the banner, Cloud 9 supporters held it up for a portion of the match.
Gotham plays one more match at Montclair State University’s Soccer Park. They welcome Racing Louisville FC on Sunday, May 2. For the 2021 regular season, they will play at Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, New Jersey. Red Bull Arena is the home stadium for MLS’ New York Red Bulls.
Follow me on Twitter @1ThomasCostello. And check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more articles on amazing women and their sport.
