New Jersey politician George Norcross III claims he was forcibly removed from Sunday’s Eagles-Cowboys game and the video seems to back him up on that statement.
Norcross said he hung a U.S.-Israel flag outside the suite he was sitting in during the game at Lincoln Financial Field and said he was forcibly removed and assaulted because he refused to remove the American and Israeli flags.
Videos posted to social media showed the tense interaction between Norcross and stadium security during the game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Norcross said that he would be considering legal action after this incident.
“Yesterday, I was forcibly removed and assaulted by the non-police security staff of Lincoln Financial Field and the Eagles/NFL for refusing to remove a 3′ x5′ American and Israeli flag I’d hung off the box I was sitting in. As a longtime passionate fan and season ticket holder, I have watched the Eagles/NFL make clear and strong statements on numerous important civil justice issues and ethnic and world conflicts, including supporting the people of Ukraine, so as a strong supporter of Israel — a country which was viciously attacked by the terrorist group Hamas less than a month ago — I thought it was an important statement to make.
It remains unclear why the Eagles/NFL believe that the US-Israeli flag should be deemed “obscene or indecent” or otherwise inappropriate — which is what I was cited for — and should therefore be ripped down despite both issuing public statements strongly supporting Israel following the October 7th attacks. But as I consider whether to file suit against the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL, and the security company which yanked me out of the box and paraded me in front of thousands of fans, I urge other supporters of Israel to make their feelings known to the team and the NFL just as they have to universities like Penn and Harvard.
There is no dispute: On October 7th, Hamas murdered innocent Israeli civilians, raped women, and butchered children, and continues to hold hostages. I believe Israel has the right to defend itself, just as the United States did following the September 11th attacks and I will remain a proud and vocal defender of its right to do so. Americans have the right to peacefully protest, but that does not include the right to threaten people with bodily harm or even death.”
The Philadelphia Eagles have since responded stating they have a stadium policy that states signs with any “kind of non-game messaging” cannot be hung from stadium suites.
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“The Philadelphia Eagles reaffirm our stance again condemning the horrific and brutal Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7th.
“The tragic loss of innocent lives in Israel is both shocking and heartbreaking. We condemn the abhorrent acts of terrorism, and we grieve for all the victims and their families. We pray for peace to be brought to the people of the region.” – Philadelphia Eagles, October 9, 2023.
We feel it necessary to articulate the facts of the matter involving Mr. Norcross at the stadium on Sunday. Mr. Norcross’ removal from the stadium had nothing to do with the content of his sign.
Our stadium policies expressly prohibit signage containing any kind of non-game messaging to be hung from a stadium suite. Stadium staff repeatedly asked Mr. Norcross to remove the sign he hung outside of the suite. Instead of complying with the request, Mr. Norcross became physically and verbally abusive. Mr. Norcross was ejected from the stadium only after his abuse toward numerous stadium staff members continued. He was escorted from the suite level to the stadium’s ejection point, just as anyone else would be after engaging in abusive behavior in violation of stadium policy.”
Norcross can be seen being escorted out and his flag, which draped over the suite wall, was removed.
As for the game, he missed a good ending.
A thrilling finish at Lincoln Financial Field saw the Philadelphia Eagles hold on to beat the Dallas Cowboys and take control of the NFC East, a showdown that came down to the final play. The Eagles’ defense did all they could lose to the game in the final minute but were ultimately able to win it in the end.
Prescott finished with 374 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes in the second half despite being hobbled with an injury at the end of the first half.
Hurts was an efficient 17-for-23 passing for 207 passing yards while also totaling a one-yard rushing touchdown via the “tush push.”
