The St. Louis Blues have condemned what they called an antisemitic protest during a game last week at Enterprise Center. Signs reading "Israel Kills" and "Free America from Israel" were held by fans in the stands Thursday when the Blues played the Vegas Golden Knights.
In a statement Monday, Blues owner Tom Stillman called the signs "vile messages of hate" that were "unfortunate and unforgivable." The team said in a post on social media that the messages were not acceptable at its arena.
Stillman said the fans who held the banners were ejected from the arena. The 2026 Freedom Convoy, which said it was responsible for the protest, disagreed with Stillman's characterization of the signs. "Criticizing Israel is in no way, shape or form antisemitic," the group said in a statement.
The dispute highlights the ongoing debate over where criticism of Israeli government policy ends and antisemitism begins, a question that has increasingly played out at sporting events and other public venues.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing