Simple solution to Barra Brava's Nightmare

I have also been asked to attend the meeting and will be insistent that we get some promises, in writing, from CSC.

I hate to even suggest this, but I am wondering if we shouldn't rotate our own set of "guards" to protect us from CSC. maybe some of the brothers could volunteer to stand between our guys and CSC. what i am suggesting is that they watch CSC and the Barra and then try and resolve things with CSC before they escalate. Obviously CSC personnel do not have the training and desire to do this, we can do it ourselves.

the other thing we must remember is that this is CSC and the Stadium board, not DCU, who is responsible for this situation. DCU and Zack have proven they want to resolve this problem and let the Barra continue as before. In a sense, both the Barra and DCU are "customers" of CSC and neither of us are getting very good service.

 

While I wholeheartily agree that the security people are over stepping their authority in the Barra (and the SEs on the aisle), I also see where we need to respect some of the stadium rules, mainly with the smokebombs and firecrackers. Nothing gets security's little fannies into the section quicker than setting off a few flares (and why give them a reason to come over?) Our arguments that security is overstepping their bounds would be much stronger if people weren't so flagrantly disregarding this rule.

If people want smoke in the section maybe we should pursue getting a smoke machine, that they have one in Chicago doesn't rule out the possibility. We want a few people in the SEs and Barra who can be seen above people but the SA doesn't want people on the seats. What if we were able to get a crate or box for a few people to stand on (what if the SA just removed the seat part of the chairs?) Having the same security people every week is good idea and they should be introduced to a few key people in each group who can help diffuse situations. We should be thinking of creative solutions.

While we've talked about self-policing (which is good) we should also agree that at some point we have to let security remove people who are jeopardizing the situation for everyone (like 2 drunks fighting or someone tossing a flare). Having 20 people get involved when someone does get tossed just escalates the situation (and heck, you're missing the game!) If we want respect we also have to give some.

K

 

I think this backfired!

Unfortunately I think this "helping defuse" situations was part of what got McOwen injured. I know McOwen had made some suggestions on how to keep the aisles clear to the CSC guard who later assaulted him. I believe the guard may have been offended that a "mere spectator" had the nerve to tell him how to do his job. That may have set up the whole scenario that eventually followed.

I still think it is a good idea, but for sure security would have to be trained to work with us, and would definitely have to be introduced to the key people.

 

Re: I think this backfired!

Forgive me for not providing a link, but as Owen can tell you, talking to CSC get's you hurt or nowhere.

If you go to the thread posted by AndyMead that is titled ECG photos.........
Click on the Pregame link.
Scroll down to the last two pictures.

Owen is trying to talk some sence into CSC before the match begins. I know because my wife is hidden in the picture by the CSC guy. Well, look what it got him.

 

The goal would be to have people within the clubs tell people to knock off what they're doing BEFORE security shows up. As we're mostly adults most people know how to conduct themselves (but mix in a few beers and some forget).

Right now CSC and the Stadium Authority have no idea who we are and what we're doing (and not doing!) I bet they'd be surprised to see some of us out of our game gear and to learn how we spend 9-5. They also don't know who are leaders in the sections, that's why an intro would be helpful. We're passionate people but we don't want to come off like the over testosteroned apes sent to guard us. We need to firmly but respectfully get our point across to the SA that we're not there to burn the place down and wreak havoc but support our team in the tradition of clubs around the world.
To that end though, there has to be some acknowledgement of stadium rules and that tossing incendiary devices is a big violation of the rules.

K

 

Hey Oscar,

I'm behind you all the way. The CSC tend to think of fans as animals when they are in big crowds so they treat us like animals. When you try to act civil they get surprised and just disregard you out of disbelief. We have to remind the stadium people that we basically pay their salaries and this our way to have a little fun after our days at work. The rowdy people should be kicked out but they are not carrying guns and should not be treated as attempting murderers. The fans will even help out remove the fools that don't know how to behave. Fans are about the game, not about each other. Just because I'm sitting next to a rowdy ignorant "fan", does not qualify me as one also. And the rowdy and ignorant fan is just that, rowdy and ignorant, nothing more. Get them out, but don't knock them out.

 

Absent an odd smokebomb here and there when security has not started the game harassing people there have been no problems. There have been less people on the seats and less "rules violation". When people get harassed from the time they walk down the stairs into the aisle that is when things get out of hand.

Talking to security is a calm polite respectfull manner has accomplished very little. It gets you sworn at, insulted, threatend to be kicked out all for wanting to have a conversation.

RESPECT HAS TO BE MUTUAL. TO GET THEY HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE. I THINK BARRA HAS TRIED.

maybe not to the extent that would be preferable but it is there. Is it not a little strange that with the same people in the Barra games and games go by without incident and then there comes a power hugry ********************* who causes trouble.

 

I dont want to offend anybody and I dont know how you would feel but what about a boycott of
1 game if things are not satisfied. I know it is a small step, but do you think Mr Zak or anybody else would care and make a notion if we were to boycott a single game next season???

 

i think the only group who would be punished would be United and it really isn't their fault. CSC would in no way be affected by the boycott nor would Goldwater and his band of merry morons. I know Zack already cares about this issue and has attempted to deal with it. He has promised to address and resolve the ongoing (and recognized) problems with CSC in the off season. He is in the best position to actually acomplish something. I think we have to give him the chance and if that doesn't work, then discuss any further steps.

 

Point taken.

I didnt think that it would hurt DC but I see now that it would. Thanks for the input

 

I, too was thinking along the lines of a boycott and came to the same conclusion. DCU seems to be on our side, so why hurt them? On the other hand, if we are angry at the RFK people, maybe an effective boycott would be to stop buying concessions inside the stadium. This would require some advance planning, i.e. drinking enough in lot 8 to last through the game. Think there would be a measurable decrease in sales if all the supporters' clubs and BS lurkers quit buying beer and stuff? (Don't name people individually when responding to this! ) This might hurt DCU a little, but a good chunk of concession revenue must go to RFK.

 

If you really want a boycott that will be noticed, just sit down during the match. Don't cheer, don't make a sound. And hold up a bedsheet that says "FIRE CSC" on it.

Sachin

 

1) CSC has nothing to do with concessions. They are a security company hired by the Stadium Authority. Not purchasing concessions will not be noticed as a protest against them.

2) DC United gets NONE (ZERO, NADA, ZILCH, NIENTE, NICHTS, NULL, NIL) from concessions at the stadium.

3) Holding signs protesting the CSC are unlikely to effect any change. Do you actually believe anyone in the CSC cares what we think? And why would the Stadium Authority listen to fans in the stadium that they consider "the problem"?

The only way to deal with this is to have this meeting between the Stadium Authority, DC United, and the supporters groups. Perhaps a dialoge like this will allow the "heat of the moment" reactions to subside and allow DC United to back up the supporters in a meeting.

 

Agreed. The only problem is that DC UNITED dont want us at their meetings. I tried to get one of our norteno members to go (a representable one obviously) and attend one meeting held in La Nortes inargural season. Fred Mathis said he would call me. He gave me a date on when the meeting would be, so I called him the day before, and the day of the meeting. He never replied to the phone calls till after the meeting. He told another member the details of the meeting. Poorly managed on mathis part.

I figure any meetings with stadium security should be mentioned here on the boards. We all can agree to what should be proposed or whatever, and vote on who should show up and speak on our behalf (DC FANS IN GENERAL).

 

My point exactly. *IF* you wanted to stage a boycott of some kind, this would be the way to go. We sure don't want the players to think we're abandoning them. Just make sure the stadium authority knows that the behavior of their hired goons is the reason we aren't buying any more $4.75 Buds. The bonecrushers don't care about the fans, but they might listen to the stadium authority. All the stadium authority seems to care about is money, so this would seem to be the only way to get their attention while still supporting the team. Good to hear that this wouldn't hurt DCU at all financially.

 

A lot of the CSC staff show up to RFK itching to kick people around and its just simply a racial issue. They don't go after the Sallie contiengency because they know that grabbing one is gettting jumped by all of them. Their odds are best against BB and SE crowds because they know that middle class america does not want a police record. That's all!

 

grow up

How about if you just act like adults enjoy the game, cheer for United, and cut the crap. Pulling the big banner over the section so the security folks can't see which individual set the fireworks off or lit the flare is simply childish taunting. While the Barra gets lots of recognition, there just ain't much value added from your antics. So now someone gets hurt and we have all this chest thumping and threats of lawsuits. What if the bottle rocket launched from the Barra years ago had really hurt someone? You guys are like broomstick cowboys, just wannabe soccer hooligans. Once again, grow up, get a life.

 

The Barra brings a lot to the the team, several times players from the team stop by the after game tailgates and tell us personally how much we add to the game.

As Chico notes, we are all adults, responsible for our behavior. Those members of the BB, just like anyone else in the crowd make their own decisions about their conduct. They are adults, there is already mechanisms in place to punish them. A scolding from some punk isn't really warranted.

I am a member of the Barra and would be happy to send NicktheGreek a resume or affadavits from friends and family that I have a life.

Don't like the posts in this thread, relief is a mouse click away. Don't like the Barra, sit somewhere else. Have a compulsive need to tell someone how to live their lives, have kids or work for John Ashcroft.

 

It's not necessarily a race card but CSC staff are SE thugs that don' like us because BB and SE are mostly comprised of white collar workers, students, your middle class America...and it eats them that we get to enjoy games while they get to push crap around all day. Therefore, they know that if they abuse one of us, we are not likely to jump on them because we are afraid of having a police record. On the other hand, when the sallies come in large numbers, they know that if they push one around, they'll have 20 on their faces and it'll be unlikely they'll manage to arrest a few.
The meeting that S. Zack is to set up with RFK, CSC, BB and SE should be very interesting.

 

Alright, lets everyone take a breath here before things get even more out of hand. Labeling someone a thug because they have SE in their mailing address really is no different than calling a Barra member a racist name (and because most of the security guys are African American you assume they live in SE?) If you want to come out on the right side here don't do the same thing you're accusing CSC doing.

Has anyone heard from Stephen re a meeting?

K