CHICAGO (AP) — A Green Bay fan is making a federal case out of a dispute with the Chicago Bears, filing a lawsuit accusing the rival team of violating his free-speech rights by prohibiting him from wearing Packers apparel at Bears’ pregame warmups.
Russell Beckman of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, filed the 10-page lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Friday seeking a court order lifting the ban.
An email Beckman sent to Bears executives that he included in his court filing last week accuses the team of creating “segregated safe spaces for Bears fans” by banishing Packers gear.