Updated 6:27 p.m.

The owner of a prominent Portland cidery and outspoken anti-fascist is among the Portland Timbers fans banned from attending the next three matches at Providence Park for violating Major League Soccer’s prohibition on political signage at games, The Oregonian/OregonLive has learned.

Abram Goldman-Armstrong said he received an official notice from the Timbers’ head of security Friday. Goldman-Armstrong owns Cider Riot, which is also at the center of two high-profile legal cases stemming from a clash between its left-wing patrons and members of a right-wing group who authorities say came to provoke them into a confrontation.

The sanction comes after he and other members of the Timbers Army defied recent warnings and flew banners with an Iron Front symbol during last week’s match against Real Salt Lake.

The Iron Front is among the signage banned by MLS’s new fan code of conduct for being political. The emblem with three arrows pointing downward was first used by an anti-Nazi paramilitary organization in Germany in the 1930s.

Goldman-Armstrong is the first among an unknown number of newly banned Timbers fans to publicly come forward.

“You violated the Major League Soccer Code of Conduct by displaying a sign…that Major League Soccer deems a threat to the safety of the match,” reads the notice sent to Goldman-Armstrong and signed by Jim McCausland, the Director of Security for the Timbers. “We take negative fan behavior seriously.”

[Read the full letter below]

Goldman-Armstrong, a season ticket holder since the Timbers Army first formed in 2001, said he was greatly disappointed by the decision and planned to appeal it, which the notice says he is permitted to do.

“The league is determined to create a safe space for Nazis in their stadiums,” he said. “Being anti-racist and anti-fascist has been a part of (the Timbers Army) identity since the beginning.”

In a statement Saturday, MLS said it has made diversity and inclusion core values since its inception nearly 25 years ago.

“Major League Soccer fully and wholeheartedly condemns racism, discrimination, fascism and any form of hatred," the statement said. “The prohibition on political signage is in place to support the overwhelming majority of MLS fans who come to our stadiums to enjoy a great soccer game.”

The league earlier this week said that it plans to discuss its code of conduct rules with the Independent Supporters Council, an organization that advocates on behalf of MLS fans nationwide.

“In the meantime, we and all clubs in MLS need to enforce league rules,” the Timbers said in a statement. “But the Timbers are committed to embracing explicit and creative anti-fascist and anti-racist expression, as we always have.”

MLS has faced backlash and protests over the last several months from some fans for its decision to ban the Iron Front symbol. Those fans say the symbol isn’t political because it represents an opposition to fascism and oppression, which are issues of human rights.

107 Independent Supporters Trust, the non-profit arm of the Timbers Army, announced Thursday that they would hold another protest at Saturday’s game between the Timbers and Sporting Kansas City.

MLS is concerned that the symbol has been adopted by members of the anti-fascist, or antifa, movement, a loose affiliation of activists whose protests against fascism and racism have sometimes turned violent.

A number of antifa activists were at Cider Riot on May 1 when police and prosecutors say members of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, including its leader Joey Gibson, took multiple steps to incite a violent melee outside the Northeast Couch establishment.

A chaotic scene erupted, with shouting, swearing, brawling, drink-throwing, rock-throwing and people using pepper spray or mace on others.

Gibson and five other Patriot Prayer affiliates were arrested last month and face felony riot charges in connection with the May Day incident at Cider Riot. None of the pub’s patrons have been arrested or charged at this time.

In addition to the criminal case, Goldman-Armstrong filed a lawsuit against Gibson and his associates seeking $1 million in damages.

Last week, Cider Riot announced that it had released a limited-edition cider to “honor those standing up against Major League Soccer’s ban” on the Iron Front symbol.

“They’re fully on the wrong side of history and it’s sad to see,” Goldman-Armstrong said. “Their behavior is clearly problematic.”

Here’s a copy of the letter sent to Goldman-Armstrong

This certified letter is to advise you that you are officially banned from the next three (3) Portland Timbers matches at Providence Park. The match dates are September 7th, 2019 vs Sporting Kansas City, September 15th 2019 vs DC United, and September 18th 2019 vs New York Red Bulls. Our internal investigation indicated that while at the Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake match on Saturday August 31st 2019 you violated the Major League Soccer Code of Conduct by displaying a sign during the Portland Timbers match at Providence Park that Major League Soccer deems a threat to the safety of the match.

The MLS Code of Conduct describes the following Level 2 offense and related sanctions:

Targeted using obscene or abusive language or gestures, or displaying any inappropriate sign or visible representation.

SANCTIONS: Level 2 offenses carry a range of suspensions, depending on if they are the 1st or 2nd offense. Prior to the 1st penalty, individuals can be given a warning for their behavior.

· 1st offense ranges from 1-3 games

· 2nd offense ranges from 3-5 games

You are prohibited from entering or remaining on the property of Providence Park on September 7th 2019, September 15th 2019, and September 18th 2019. If you violate this prohibition, you may be subject to arrest and may be charged with Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree according to ORS 164.245.

We take negative fan behavior seriously. If you have any questions regarding this policy or your sanction, please feel free to contact me. You have a right to appeal in writing within seven (7) days if you wish to contest this sanction.

Sincerely,

Jim McCausland

Director of Security

Portland Timbers

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

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