:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69942988/1336518678.0.jpg)
The Rose City Riveters organized a gathering outside of Providence Park to show support for the Portland Thorns players and the players throughout the league. The gathering was announced yesterday on Twitter by the supporters' group.
Well over 100 people gathered outside of Providence Park, according to the Rose City Review’s Katelyn Best, who was onsite at the event. Fans showed up with signs supporting the bravery shown by Mana Shim, Sinead Farrelly and Kaiya McCullough, all of whom came forward to share their experiences of abuse and mistreatment during their time in the league.
This. All day every day this. pic.twitter.com/l7ILzo9iRp
— Rachel ⛵️ (@meriveran) October 3, 2021
By gawd that’s @meleanashim’s song #protecttheplayers pic.twitter.com/m9eyFCfq1q
— Katelyn Best (@BestKabest) October 3, 2021
— Kai (@hiyakaiya) October 3, 2021
The fans also had many signs calling for the resignation of Timbers’ and Thorns’ general manager Gavin Wilkinson. Photos and videos of the gathering can be seen below in Best’s and Jules Boykoff’s threads on Twitter.
At the stadium where @PDXRivetersSG folks are gathering. Probably a couple hundred people here so far, lots of signs and banners pic.twitter.com/u2jYKRWqVw
— Katelyn Best (@BestKabest) October 3, 2021
More signs, including a guillotine. The Riveters do a chant based on the Coup’s “The Guillotine” pic.twitter.com/2rbVT4DKih
— Katelyn Best (@BestKabest) October 3, 2021
More signs and a poster that’s getting passed out #protecttheplayers pic.twitter.com/SWqhGjiVeb
— Katelyn Best (@BestKabest) October 3, 2021
More smoke bombs than I’ve ever seen in one place pic.twitter.com/5cyWgHQwWD
— Katelyn Best (@BestKabest) October 3, 2021
Protect the players! pic.twitter.com/QplqeodPBz
— Rose City Riveters (@PDXRivetersSG) October 3, 2021
— NWSLPA (@nwsl_players) October 3, 2021
Right now in Portland, people are gathered outside the stadium where the Portland Thorns & Timbers play, standing up in collective support of #NWSL players. Event organized by @PDXRivetersSG #BAONPDX [ posted w/ permission] pic.twitter.com/k2eiPyt2uZ
— Jules Boykoff (@JulesBoykoff) October 3, 2021
There’s a whole lot of ❤️ at this protest for Sinead Farrelly, Mana Shim, & Kaiya McCullough for their courage in standing up to power [posted a/ permission] pic.twitter.com/hhVNfoH6s0
— Jules Boykoff (@JulesBoykoff) October 3, 2021
Special placard art printed for today’s protest in Portland outside the stadium where the Portland Thorns play, where people are standing up to #ProtectThePlayers. Event organized by @PDXRivetersSG #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/OiAOkXnEIf
— Jules Boykoff (@JulesBoykoff) October 3, 2021
The No Pity Van was on site and was selling NWSL Player’s Association scarves, according to Best. The van also displayed a QR code that could be scanned to donate directly to the player’s association. You can follow this link to donate to the NWSLPA.