10/06/2026
What happened at Q2 on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, was unacceptable.
On Hispanic Heritage Night, an Austin FC fan was wearing an Abolish ICE shirt and refused to cover her shirt or leave the stadium - a shirt she had been permitted to enter the stadium wearing. Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin disagree with treating that message as prohibited political speech under the MLS Fan Code of Conduct.
Just six days earlier, a Venezuelan member of our Austin community was shot by an ICE officer. Opposition to ICE is not an abstract political debate for many of our members and neighbors. It is about what is happening here, in our community, and about their safety, dignity, and ability to move through it without fear.
In the days since, members of our community have questioned whether they feel safe and welcome returning to Q2.
That should matter to Austin FC. The club has a responsibility to communicate clearly that our Hispanic and immigrant communities are welcome and safe at Q2.
Our Hispanic and immigrant communities are not a theme, a marketing campaign, or something to celebrate only when it is easy. If their culture is part of this club’s identity, their safety and belonging must be part of that commitment too.
Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin believe soccer is for everyone. We believe in creating a home where our Hispanic and immigrant neighbors are safe, welcome, and protected — especially when that commitment is tested.
Austin FC must examine the policies governing security, law enforcement, and fan conduct, and how those policies are enforced, to ensure Q2 lives up to that promise.
We also call on MLS to revise its Fan Code of Conduct so that rules intended to limit political campaigning are not used to silence supporters speaking out about the safety, dignity, and rights of their communities
Q2 is our home. Everyone who calls it home should be able to feel that they belong there.
-Los Verdes & La Murga De Austin