Emails from Pierce County Sheriff reveal how he plans to stage a conflict like one instigated by Brandi Kruse and I-638 supporters at last week’s Portland Thorns game
Pierce County MAGA Sheriff Keith Swank and I-638 supporters are planning to disrupt the Reign FC’s final regular season game at Lumen Field on Sunday.
Swank is trying to replicate I-638 supporters’ deliberate fight instigation at the Portland Thorns FC game last week. Right-wing influencer Brandi Kruse admitted to the New York Times that her group staged the conflict by raising signs to impair others' views, then blocking an exit. Kruse and other instigators had to be removed by stadium security and Portland police.
According to emails and posts from Swank, the Pierce County Sheriff is telling a group of at least 90 to buy seats in the "supporter" section of the stadium, which is where the Royal Guard and other fans often wave pride flags. Swank is directing his group to reveal anti-trans t-shirts at half time to provoke the crowd. The shirts, which say XX_XY, are widely considered to be deliberately transphobic and are often worn by I-638 supporters, including I-638 sponsor and mega-millionaire Brian Heywood.
Reiny Cohen, Defend Washington Director and Reign FC season ticket holder, commented: “Nothing says protecting women's spaces like disrupting a major women's professional soccer event for your own political purposes and to boost social media views. They are trying to distract from the fact that I-638 will require all girls to submit to invasive sex inspections just to play elementary, middle, and high school sports because they know voters don’t support harming girls.”
Zero trans women or girls play for the Reign FC or any NWSL team. This is a playoff-determining game for the Reign, the last of the regular season, and where openly LGBTQ+ team captain Jess Fishlock will be honored as she retires. Megan Rapinoe, who opposes I-638, is expected to be there to help honor Fishlock.
