New Jersey businessman George Norcross was removed from Sunday's Eagles games against the Dallas Cowboys in Philadelphia for displaying an American-Israeli flag.
Norcross has since announced that he may sue over the controversy that took place just weeks after Hamas attacks on Israel.
Top New Jersey Democrat Operative Removed from Eagles Game After Displaying American-Israeli Flag https://t.co/XoGxaYT2A8
— † Crusader (@Wil_Johnson1) November 6, 2023
“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,” Norcross said in a statement.
“As a longtime passionate fan and season ticket holder,” Norcross told the paper, “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," he added.
George Norcross ejected from Lincoln Financial Field after hanging US-Israel flag from suite https://t.co/7efMuPzgIE
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) November 7, 2023
"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," a statement from the Eagles claimed.
"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," it continued.
New Jersey political boss and power broker George Norcross III says he was forcibly removed from Sunday’s Eagles-Cowboys game at Lincoln Financial Field because he refused to remove an American and Israeli flag. Tap the photos for the full story: https://t.co/pYTkw51cUv
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) November 6, 2023
"City spokeswoman, Sarah Peterson, said Norcross was in the Mayor’s Box at Suday's game. A representative of Norcross's said that Mayor Jim Kenney did at one point come into the box and ask Norcross to remove the flag," NBC 10 TV reported.
"Norcross is one of New Jersey’s most influential Democratic power brokers as well as an executive at insurance broker Conner Strong & Buckelew. He also chairs the board of Camden’s Cooper University Hospital and health system," it noted.
It is unclear whether Norcross will move forward with plans for a lawsuit though many are upset over the stadium's response.
Users across social media were quick to note the NFL's support of many other social issues while also stopping the expression of support for Israel.
The latest controversy could spread to other events as Americans decide to stand up on behalf of Israel despite the stadium's response in the days ahead.
