The Timbers Army unveiled multiple banners ahead of Friday's Portland Timbers-New York Red Bulls game rejecting comments made by President Donald Trump earlier this week.

A pair of banners read, "Choose a side. Our side is against racism." The Timbers Army also unveiled a banner that read, "Now is the time," which is a reference to a song by The Specials called "Racist Friend." The song has the lyrics, "If you have a racist friend, now is the time for your friendship to end."

On Tuesday, Trump said "there is blame on both sides" for the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia that led to the death of Heather Heyer, 32.

Groups of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and far-right extremists descended on Charlottesville last weekend to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee. The protests became deadly when a man plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters.

After originally saying there was blame on both sides for the tragic events, Trump condemned members of the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists in a prepared statement Monday. But Trump drew sharp criticism after he reverted to his original statement at a press conference Tuesday, once again saying there was blame on both sides.

The Timbers held a moment of silence for the victims of Charlottesville before kickoff Friday.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg