Last month, New Yorker Brad Campeau-Laurion was kicked out of Yankee Stadium by the NYPD for going to the bathroom during the playing of God Bless America, a Yankee Stadium tradition since the attacks of September 11, 2001. The entire story, plus the NYPD's response, can be found here:
http://deadspin.com/5043563/cops-tell-different-tale-about-fan-who-was-ejected-over-god-bless-america
Even with the he-said-she-said element to this story (not to mention the fact that the man is a Red Sox fan, not a Yankees fan), the outrageousness of this situation ultimately boils down to who kicked him out of the stadium, not why he was kicked out.
It is the discretion of the New York Yankees as to what constitutes appropriate behavior at their stadium, and most professional sports venues will both post and broadcast unacceptable antics, such as "interfering with play will result in ejection", etc.
I can not find any specific policy online concerning Yankee Stadium's behavior policies, but I can say from experience working at both major and minor league ballparks that there are not enough police officers compared to stadium staff to make them the first line of defense against bad behavior.
It troubles me that the NYPD, in this instance, felt empowered to enforce behavioral conduct at Yankee Stadium, rather than stadium staff. Even if the NYPD's story is true, and the man was "cursing" and "reeking of alcohol", stadium staff could have given the man a chance to tone down his behavior, or face expulsion. If the man either ignored the request or became confrontational, then the police could have been asked to step in and remove the man.
For example, here's a video of a police officer at Yankee Stadium politely asking unruly Mets fans to move to another section of the stadium in order to break up a fight, rather that kicking them out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCqJuFmzgIg
It becomes clear, then, that the NYPD was not necessarily acting properly when they kicked this man out, no matter which version of the story is correct. The NYPD admits that "officers" took it upon themselves to "decide" to "eject" the man when nothing other than drunken behavior is alleged to have taken place, which needless to say is commonplace at every MLB game in America. The statement does not mention any requests from Yankees staff, or even other fans, to remove the man.
Because you are not "allowed" to do anything at Yankee Stadium other than stand silently during God Bless America, and that the NYPD's statement admits to a lesser wrong, it's quite likely that the man's story is true. This man's only crime was exercising his right to "disrespect" a song by going to the bathroom during it, an act that would have not have caused a problem at literally any other point during the game.
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2 comments:
Im sure that this New Yorker meant no disrespect and probably didn't even give a second thought to what he was doing. But even if he didn't, he shouldn't have been kicked out of the game. People should have a choice if they want to support our country or not.
But I also do believe that no matter where or what country you are in, you should at least stand out of respect for their county. Even if you do not believe what they stand for, you are in there county and you should show respect.
I always thought this was the land of the free. I do not believe that this fan should have been escorted out of the stadium fo rnot standing and listening to God Bless America. It should be everyone's right to decide if they want to stand and listen to the song or not. I also do not believe that not staying and listening to the song means that you are not supporting our country. What if the fan was an Aetheist and simply does not agree with a song that represents our citizens even though they do not all believe in god. I think this is a very touchy subject and I think that the fan was wrongly persecuted for doing what he did. Whether he meant to or not.
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