(Newsweek) South Jersey power broker George Norcross was allegedly removed from a Philadelphia Eagles game for displaying an Israeli flag.
Video shared to social media appeared to show Norcross sitting in a private box at the Eagle’s Lincoln Financial Field in the game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday with a combined American and Israeli flag draped in front of it.
Security approached Norcross, who is a businessman and Democratic Party broker, and attempted to remove the flag, but he tried to stop them. They exchanged words and he was escorted away from his seat. Security then removed the flags.
Newsweek contacted the Eagles, the stadium and Norcross by email to confirm if he was evicted from the stadium and for what reason.
The Philadelphia Eagles look on against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on November 5, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. George Norcross was removed from the game. MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
According the field’s policy, “signs, banners or similar items that are obscene or indecent, unrelated to the event, potentially offensive to other patrons, that may block the views of other fans or that are otherwise considered dangerous or inappropriate by the Eagles are prohibited.”
“Lincoln Financial Field reserves the right to confiscate signs that are in violation of the stadium policy,” the guidelines read.
His removal comes amid the ongoing air strikes and ground offensive by Israel against the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian group Hamas is holding more than 200 hostages it kidnapped during its surprise military action on October 7. More than 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack, and since then Israel has killed more than 9,700 people in Gaza and 154 have died in the occupied West Bank, according to figures cited by the Associated Press.
People on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Norcross’ apparent removal from the stadium.
“I’M WITH GEORGE NORCROSS ON THIS… not the Philadelphia@eagles. George displayed a U.S.-Israel flag from his own box, which he paid for, at today’s game. Eagles security physically removed him. The Eagles owe an apology to George and to the Jewish community. #IStandWithIsrael,” wrote one person.
Another added: “So it’s acceptable to display an LGBTQ or BLM flag but not an American/Israeli flag at an Eagles game? George Norcross was removed from the Philadelphia Eagles game for displaying an American/Israeli flag in his box.”
