Saints Season Ticket Holder Suing Team Over Protests During National Anthem
A Saints season ticket holder is suing the team for a full refund on his season tickets because some players have kneeled during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice, according to Chad Calder of The New Orleans Advocate.
Lee Dragna of Morgan City, La. filed a lawsuit in the 24th Judicial District Court Monday asking for a refund for his season tickets and attorney's fees because the protests have stopped him and his family from enjoying games, according to The Advocate.
Dragna told The Advocate that he paid around $8,000 for his tickets and when he asked the Saints for a refund, they denied it. He also told The Advocate the tickets became unusable because of the "borderline dangerous" reaction to the protests from the fans around his seats, which included cursing and spilling beer. Instead of blaming the fans for their behavior, Dargna told The Advocate, "the Saints created that behavior by condoning it."
In the lawsuit, Dragna says he has not attended a game since the team's home opener against the Patriots, according to The Advocate. The suit adds that at that game, some New Orleans players did not come out for the anthem, and when they appeared on the field after, "they passed directly in front of where the petitioner and his guests were seated. Many of the fans in that area booed and cursed at the Saints players."
The following week when the Saints played the Panthers, 10 players sat during the anthem, including the Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee Cameron Jordan and running backs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. This came after Donald Trump said players protesting the anthem should be fired for disrespecting the flag.
The Saints have also knelt prior the anthem before standing during the song.
