Portland Thorns security and Lyft driver face scrutiny after protest removal

Security at Providence Park and a Lyft driver are facing criticism following an incident during a Portland Thorns soccer match on Friday. A group of approximately 20 individuals, wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts and carrying “Save Women’s Sports” signs, were reportedly subjected to verbal and physical altercations by other spectators.

Video footage shows security personnel forcibly removing several members of the group, including podcaster Brandi Kruse and advocate Ari Laureano. Reports indicate that one woman in the group was shoved down several rows of seats, and a police report was filed following the incident. While the group was being removed, other spectators engaging in different chants or wearing different messages were not ejected.

Following their removal from the stadium, four women from the group, including Julie Lane and Linda Serbu, reported being ejected from a Lyft vehicle. The driver allegedly identified the women based on news reports regarding the protest before telling them they did not belong in his car and forcing them to exit in a dark area of Portland. Lane subsequently reported that her account was deactivated.