The Emerald City Supporters are committed to supporting our players and our club. With home matches resuming without fans our in-stadium support is limited. The most important thing we can do is support the fight for social justice and Black Lives Matter. Last Wednesday in LA our players showed their commitment to this fight, and we are proud to stand with them against systemic racism.
Learn more about Black Players for Change, listen as they Say It Loud, then follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
While ECS is opposed to the MLS is Back tournament, our support for our players is unwavering. During this pandemic, we have not been able to do all that we love as supporters, but we did not let that stop us from showing our support for our boys. So until we are all able to paint and sew together, sing to the glory of our club, and raise a beer to victory, we hope this raises the spirits of our boys.
As always we remain Eternal Blue, Forever Green.
Para Ganar Los Sounders!
[Photos: @SoundersFC]
On April 22, 2020, ECS called for the continued suspension of the MLS season. We expressed concerns about a variety of elements, the most important of which is the safety of players and staff. On June 10, Major League Soccer announced the #MLSisBack tournament, set to take place behind closed doors just outside of Orlando, Florida in July and August.
Since that announcement, the state of Florida has seen an alarming increase in the positive cases of COVID-19 and reversed a number of "re-opening" efforts across the state, including the area surrounding this tournament. We believe that sending our players, coaches, and staff to “quarantine” within the confines of the Walt Disney World resort is putting their careers, if not lives, in harm’s way. As of this week, MLS has announced 20 players and 6 staff have tested positive for COVID-19, which can only be expected to increase as teams co-locate in the hotel, training facilities, and matches. Additionally, the hotel staff, food delivery workers, media and broadcast production teams, and others allowed access in and out of the #MLSisBack “quarantine” are all potential vectors for communication of COVID-19, and simply having them work for this tournament creates potentially unhealthy scenarios for everyone involved.
Major League Soccer has stated that they prioritized their commitment to media partners and sponsors in the creation of this tournament, and that is evident with the unacceptable risks they are putting on the players and staff. We continue our call for the suspension of the MLS season until matches can be played in a manner that is safe for players, team personnel, and fans.
We encourage fans and supporters of Seattle Sounders FC (and all MLS clubs) to contemplate the risks being forced upon their teams. The league and their media partners are assuming we will tune in to their broadcasts and other content. Entertainment is not worth the health and careers of the players and teams we support, and we encourage all fans and supporters to reach out to club and league officials and social media outlets to put an end to this dangerous tournament.
Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Vancouver, BC, June 22, 2020 -- Shortly after the formal announcement of the “MLS is Back Tournament,” representatives of the Cascadia Cup Council unanimously agreed that matches played behind closed doors, including any future matches played in MLS stadiums where supporters are not present, will not count towards Cascadia Cup Standings in 2020. In order to continue the supporter-owned, supporter-driven Cascadia Cup’s tradition of competitive balance, each club must complete both home and away matches against each of the other clubs, and the 2020 season will be measured in the same manner as any prior season where all three teams were in the same league. As always, the Cascadia Cup Council and the supporter groups it represents stand with the MLSPA.
Emerald City Supporters is committed to uniting supporters of the Seattle Sounders and creating an environment that is accessible and inclusive to all Sounders fans to support passionately and freely. ECS is unapologetically anti-fascist and anti-racist. We support the Black Lives Matter movement and efforts to break the systems of racism that plague society.
You asked: What is ECS doing? How can I help?
We feel it is important to elevate the voices of the people who are leading this movement rather than create our own voice. We believe as allies it is important to listen actively, to learn continuously, to act intentionally, and to donate responsibly. This page includes resources to encourage engagement and education to create the changes we desire.
LISTEN
- Watch: Systemic Racism Explained (5 mins)
- Watch: Uncomfortable Conversations with a black man (10 mins)
- Watch: PBS: Roxane Gay, Anna Deavere Smith and Tay Anderson on the protests' hope and despair (12 mins)
- Listen: Seeing White: Podcast Series by Scene On Radio (14 episodes, lengths vary)
- Listen: 1619 Project Episode 1: The Fight for a True Democracy (44 mins)
- Listen: Nerd Farmer Podcast Episode #24: Nate Bowling and Steve Zakuani (67 mins)
- For Children and Parents:
LEARN
- Antiracism for Beginners (Resources and Q&A)
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
- 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship
- Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest? (Q&A)
- Imagine - A series on what police abolition might look like
- A World Without Police: Disempower, Disarm, Disband
ACT
- Start the Conversation:
- We encourage our members to discuss what they’re learning with their friends and family members.
- How to Talk to Your Parents About Black Lives Matter
- How to Talk to White Relatives About Racism - Talking Points and Data
- 'Nailed It' host Nicole Byer offers guidance on explaining Black Lives Matter to white kids
- Talking about Racism, Racial Equity and Racial Healing with Friends, Family, Colleagues and Neighbors
- Send a letter to your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.: Letters for Black Lives 2020
- Register to vote:
- Write Local Officials to Demand Change:
- Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County Demands: Email templates for Police Reform, Community Wellness, Justice Reform
- Defund12.org Nationwide email templates to demand officials reallocate egregious police budgets to education, social services, and dismantling racial inequality.
- Before you Protest:
- Support Black-Owned Businesses:
DONATE
- https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#donate (extensive list including: victim funds, bail funds, protester funds, organizations, etc.)
- If you do not have the ability to donate financially, you can contribute by streaming videos from this Black Lives Matter playlist (turn off ad blockers)
ORGANIZATIONS
Being anti-racist and anti-fascist is a lifelong journey, it is not a destination. ECS is committed to dismantling systemic racism and is scrutinizing what we currently do and what we can do better to ensure that ECS is a community that embodies this completely. We will not shy away from the conversations that need to be had and invite you to join us in making the world a place that values every human being equally.
We invite all ECS members to join the conversation HERE to discuss these resources and additional recommendations. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reach out with feedback, advice, or criticism.
Acknowledgment: Resources have been curated through recommendations from Black Lives Matter activists and recommendations from our ECS members.