Fan Booted from Yankee Stadium Gets $10K

Man Settles Lawsuit Claiming Cop Kicked Him Out of Stadium Because He Left His Seat During "God Bless America"

(AP)  A baseball fan has settled a lawsuit that claimed he was kicked out of Yankee Stadium by a police officer because he left his seat to use the bathroom during the playing of "God Bless America."

Bradford Campeau-Laurion had named the Yankees and New York City in his federal lawsuit, which argued that he was a victim of political and religious discrimination and that his rights were violated at the August 2008 game.

The city did not admit liability in the settlement, which was finalized Monday. But it will give the Queens resident $10,001 and will pay $12,000 in legal fees to the New York Civil Liberties Union.

For its part, the Yankees will pay nothing but said in settlement papers that fans at the team's new stadium are allowed to move freely during the song and there are no plans to change that.

"Policy remains as it always has been: Fans are free to move about during the playing of 'God Bless America,"' said Alice McGillion, spokeswoman for the Yankees.

But fans may not always have felt completely unfettered. Ushers used handheld chains to block off some exits while it was played at the Yankees' old stadium, although chief operating officer Lonn Trost has said they were instructed to let through spectators with emergencies.

In May 2007, Trost told The New York Times that the practice was inspired by complaints of fans who were upset that spectators were not respectful enough during the playing of "God Bless America."

The song, written by Irving Berlin in 1918, was played at big league ballparks throughout the country when baseball resumed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was discontinued in some cities the following seasons but remained a fixture at Yankees games.

"This settlement ensures that the new Yankee Stadium will be a place for baseball, not compelled patriotism," NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said in a statement. The city Law Department had no comment.

Police spokesman Paul J. Browne earlier claimed the on-duty officers ejected Campeau-Laurion because he was drunk and disorderly. But the Red Sox fan said he had two beers, an hour apart, and enjoyed the game quietly.

[native02]

Hey sunspro, my family came across the Breing Straight when it was still a solid piece of land; so pack and move out.

[ibsteve2u]

When ever I see somebody wig out over the actions of somebody else because they view the latter to be insufficiently "patriotic" I immediately suspect "rightie".

It is my unfortunate observation that such people are very good at screaming for the blood of others who they decry as being insufficiently "patriotic"...but not nearly as good at that as they are at avoiding military recruitment offices.

I first noticed that when I was in the Army...here I was assumed to be upset at the behavior of the over-enthusiastic "hippies" who might call me names - or worse - in airports, and all I could think was: "Well, that is the freedom that I volunteered to protect...and at least they aren't hypocrites, who would curtail any freedom that I might have if it made them more money."

[gunownerdan]

"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
-- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961

[inachu1]

I have witnessed weird things like this time to time in my life.

The worst I ever was in on a public transportation and many times the bus is full and I got up to stand holding the hand graps near the top of the ceiling. Other bus systems have tether loops to hold onto.

So anyway my leg fell asleep for hte reasoning for standing and the bus driver yelled at me to sit down. I yelled back with equal force as the driver and I said, "This is still America yes?" Then I told him to shut up.

[OregonJames]

Forced patriotism is not patriotism at all, and it is utterly foolish. I love my country but don't give a hoot about the national anthem, the flag, or any other symbol. It is the same way I feel about religion. I worship God, but I don't respect the church.

[npkppprc]

Un-patriotic SOB, and he got 10 thousand dollars for what? Being stupid in public and couldn't wait. Now he can afford his own toilet.
Stay home and watch it on tv next time.

[batchitcrazy]

Why is it unpatriotic, it's not the national anthem.
Why you say sob? Do you know his mom?
Maybe he couldn't wait. Ever think about that? I know the feeling of not being able to wait and I believe most males do as well. So what anyway? Why is that stupid? And how do you know he wasn't singing along to the music as he went about his business?
The money is awarded as a sign of restitution. To make people think next time before abusing civil liberties and freedom.

[bobnjersey]

[Un-patriotic SOB, and he got 10 thousand dollars for what? Being stupid in public and couldn't wait. Now he can afford his own toilet.
Stay home and watch it on tv next time. ]

is it ok if he does what he wants in his own home ... or should he also worry that he's living his life to your pathetic standard there as well?

the whole spirit of these types of songs is freedom. do you know what that means?

it surely doesn't mean being forced to stay in your seat until someone says it's ok to move. and it surely doesn't mean being kicked out of the venue for not complying to some inane rule that others are projecting on those who don't see as they do.

[payasyougo]

Only in NY would fans have something better to do than listen to the national anthem.

[junebug1965]

"God Bless America" isn't the national anthem. The Star-Spangled Banner is.

[bobnjersey]

[Only in NY would fans have something better to do than listen to the national anthem. ]

you've obviously never been there. there's only about a thousand things that would be better to do than listen to 'god bless america' or the national anthem when you're in nyc.

[Slrman]

Once again, the wealthy owners of sports teams avoid paying the costs of their business by passing them on to the taxpayers. When will the public wake up and realize they are all being forced to pay for something attended my less than 15% of the population in their area?

Ban professional sports and lower your taxes.

[Newster1]

In May 2007, Trost told The New York Times that the practice was inspired by complaints of fans who were upset that spectators were not respectful enough during the playing of "God Bless America."

Too bad, there's NO law requiring anyone to be "respectfull" during the pledge OR a religious blurb in a PUBLIC place they paid to be, you want to have pseudo-church then do it in a real church not a public ballpark!

"The song, written by Irving Berlin in 1918, was played at big league ballparks throughout the country when baseball resumed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was discontinued in some cities the following seasons but remained a fixture at Yankees games."

Who cares, and if Yankee continued it that's their problem not the spectators, maybe a $20,000 payment will show them the light about forced church worship, personally I think it should have been ten times that.


"This settlement ensures that the new Yankee Stadium will be a place for baseball, not compelled patriotism," NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said in a statement."

BRAVO! thank you Donna!


" The city Law Department had no comment. "

LOL yeah I bet not!

[npkppprc]

What is wrong with respecting the men and women who fought for this country? They gave you the freedom to run your mouth like an idiot. This does not seem like a large inconvenience for a true American to stand for a few minutes to show respect. People like you don?t even respect yourselves. You were also given another freedom the freedom to move out of the United States to a communist country of your choice.

[sunspro]

What is wrong, npkppprc? This is America, where no one has the right to coerce people into worshiping with them. Too bad that you make a stupid remark like "people like you don't even respect yourselves" to an intelligent comment. And don't even think about telling me to move away. My family has been here since 1640. Has yours?

[flexsf]

Christianists are out of their minds. Is this what they mean by an "army of god?" Religious zealots are scary!

[ErrorInUse]

I agree flexsf. And CarlR609, you should be afraid of the good Christians who diddle with kids, who shoot up their neighbors, who go on rampages. You must read about those "good quiet Christian" neighbors that nobody thought would do the things they do. Get your butt out of your head, Muslims have very little to do with crime in America. Most of that is perpetrated by those real good Christians with the high morals.

[sunspro]

Yes they are quite scary. It's their way or the highway. Fortunately, plenty of Americans will stand up for their rights.