A Joint Letter From New England Supporters To Our Players

This is a copy of the letter from the Midnight Riders, Rebellion and Rev Army  that is being circulated to the players.  We thought it would be best to share this with everyone

"To the New England Revolution players, coaches, and technical staff,

        This Sunday during the MLS regular season match between the Revolution and the Philadelphia Union, supporters in The Fort will be participating in a protest in response to an incident that took place during the June 18th match between the Revolution and the Chicago Fire. During this match, Revolution officials with assistance from members of Team Ops and the Town of Foxborough Police Department acted to stop the use of a particular chant, one directed at opposing team goalkeepers during goal kicks. In part due to unnecessary provocations on the part of some fans and the aforementioned parties, a number of supporters were ejected, detained, arrested and ultimately banned from returning to Gillette Stadium. In the process, supporters were subjected to bullying, antagonism, intimidation, threats, and potential civil rights violations.
        

      Revolution supporters, club officials, representatives of Team Ops and the Foxborough Police Department have since met to discuss this incident and related concerns and are in general agreement that things could have been handled better with both sides pledging to move forward in good faith. However, considering that incidents like these have occurred with some regularity since year one of the club and without appreciable resolution, supporters feel it is necessary to express their frustration and raise awareness of the concerns through a demonstration of support for The Fort and the rights of its dedicated supporters.
       

      For purposes of the Revolution vs. Union match, supporters in The Fort will protest by wearing black while refraining from standing, chanting, singing, waving flags or drumming for the first fifteen minutes of the match. The protest will conclude in the 16th minute with supporters walking out of the stadium for the remainder of the match, this in recognition of 16 seasons of (as yet) unresolved issues between fans and the Revolution organization.

        It should be made absolutely clear that these actions are not directed towards the players, coaches or technical staff. While supporters are both frustrated and disappointed at how the 2011 season has turned out to this point our issue is not with you, but club management and stadium security.  We’re New England ‘til we die and we’ll continue to stand behind you both literally and figuratively, but this Sunday we’ll only be doing so in our hearts and minds.

            It is our hope that going forward these efforts will not have been conducted in vain, but rather, can serve to affect positive changes that will ultimately result in greater and more impassioned displays of support for the ‘boys in blue.”
          
                                                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                                        The Fort”