Fan asks judge to order Bears to let him wear Packers gear on sidelines
Russell Beckman, a Packers fan and Bears season-ticket holder, is hoping a judge will grant his request to wear Green Bay gear on the sidelines at Soldier Field.
Beckman filed a lawsuit in federal court in June 2017 accusing the Bears of violating his First Amendment rights by barring him from wearing Packers apparel during pregame warmups in Chicago.
The lawsuit is still pending, but with the Bears hosting the Packers on Dec. 16, Beckman's legal team is seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction to prevent the Bears from keeping him off the sidelines during the game, according to Corilyn Shropshire of the Chicago Tribune.
Russell Beckman, a Bears season ticket holder, has been waging a legal battle for years so he can wear Packers gear on the Soldier Field sideline.
— Chicago Sports (@ChicagoSports) December 6, 2018
He's hoping for a favorable decision before the Packers visit the Bears on Dec. 16.https://t.co/vZ1V0Toi74 via @corilyns pic.twitter.com/21y85m9Vvk
Beckman, who also holds Packers season tickets, alleges in his lawsuit that he wore Green Bay gear on the sidelines during pregame events for Bears season-ticket holders in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, however, he says he received an email from the Bears stating that fans wearing opposing team apparel wouldn't be allowed on the field.
A hearing has been scheduled for Friday. Beckman has vowed to continue his fight if denied access to the sidelines during the Week 15 matchup.
"Lord (George) McCaskey (Bears chairman) has picked a fight with the wrong peasant," Beckman said.