A New York woman is suing the New York Mets for $2 million, alleging she was denied entry to Citi Field last month because she was wearing a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat, a symbol of former President Donald Trump’s campaign.
The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court on September 6, accuses the Mets of racial discrimination, political retaliation, and emotional distress.
Aura Moody, a 64-year-old social worker from Saint Albans, Queens, claims she was attending the August 14 Mets game against the Oakland Athletics with members of the Queens Village Republican Club when the incident occurred.
Trump supporter is suing the Mets for $2 million – they made her REMOVE her MAGA hat before she could enter the stadium. pic.twitter.com/z7dtCbXxod
— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) September 21, 2024
According to Moody, she and a friend, both wearing MAGA hats, were stopped by a Citi Field staff member after clearing security and told that the hats were “too political” to be allowed inside the stadium.
Despite invoking her First Amendment rights, Moody said she was forced to remove her hat. “This country is supposed to be a beacon of freedom for all,” she told the New York Post.
Moody explained that the staffer demanded she take the hat outside the stadium, rather than simply hiding it in her bag, and said they were concerned about holding up the rest of their group, who were already seated inside.
In her lawsuit, Moody claims she asked to speak to a supervisor, feeling racially targeted as a Black woman wearing a MAGA hat.
The security supervisor reportedly confirmed that removing the hat was stadium policy, forcing Moody and her friend to return their hats to a car they had carpooled in.
When she finally reached her seat, Moody said she noticed other White members of her group wearing MAGA attire without issue, fueling her allegations of racial discrimination.
“It was embarrassing, heartbreaking, shocking, and humiliating,” she told the Post. “How can I go back? It may take some time.”
The Mets initially admitted an error had been made by the staff regarding the stadium’s dress code. “We are reaching out to Aura Moody to apologize and invite her back to the ballpark,” a team spokesperson said.
The lawsuit notes that a Mets representative did call Moody on August 17 to apologize, confirming that there was no policy against wearing a MAGA hat and that staff had been retrained.
However, Moody has not returned to Citi Field since the incident.
This legal action is not the first involving MAGA attire at sporting events.
Earlier this month, a woman in Arizona was asked to remove her MAGA hat before entering State Farm Stadium for an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Cardinals later apologized for the misunderstanding, clarifying that their policy prohibiting political signage did not apply to individual apparel.
EVERY @AZCardinals fan who loves America should wear their MAGA hat to EVERY AZ Cardinals game this season. And fans should call @12News at tell them we demand honest reporting going forward and to sideline liberal Mark Lewis until after the election. We demand the truth!… https://t.co/bcw7vsmute
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 18, 2024
As Moody’s lawsuit moves forward, it highlights the ongoing debate over political expression in public spaces, particularly at major sporting events.
Her case could set a legal precedent regarding how organizations balance political neutrality with free speech rights, especially as tensions around symbols like the MAGA hat persist.
Moody is seeking $2 million in damages, citing racial discrimination, political retaliation, and reputational harm.
The Mets have not commented further on the lawsuit, but the situation raises broader questions about free speech and political expression in public venues.
Too late get your check book out!
This BS goes on with American Citizens in sporting arenas but our Fed Govt. has millions of illegal invaders some gang members, criminals, ISIS terrorists, Voodoo Satan Worshiping human flesh eaters from Haiti but these Sport Venue owners pull this crap; shut the stadium down for the Entire season and hurt them big time in the pocket book they are anti-American Nazi Democrat Bigots! I guarantee if she were wearing a hat for “Full Term Abortion” or “Support Palestine” and “Trans Surgery for Grade School Children is a Right,” they would have said Nice Hat thanks for coming!
It’s obvious they carry the Kool-Aid water for the Commie Democrat Party.
Good for her, sue the Hell out of them and hope she doesn’t get a Soros or Obama Communist judge.
Absolutely Michael! I pray the judge is one of the few unbiased and Rule of Law American Patriot one’s.
Judicial integrity and fairness is totally warranted!
yes it is Lawrence.
Michael, that is the point too, there are still a lot of good people in positions of authority and it’s not all bets are off yet so there is hope!~
I thank God I met a few in tough circumstances who proved they were the best of the best!
Not only is this First Amendment Rights ,one has to remember that these Stadiums are funded by TAXPAYER DOLLARS to be built. Granted they support many taxpaying businesses and tax paying workers ,still an over reach of power. Your employees your problem ,better training during orantations
tj, makes total sense to me. Accountability applies across the board not this BS of don’t look at me it must be somebody else’s problem; it’s more often than not, they only want to be included when there is more money being divvied up or political favor to be gained crap! That’s what the corrupt to the hilt Democrat Commie Party did for many decades, now look what they are.
hope she gets the full $2 million. She can then move to a normal state like SC. What they did at Citifield is very wrong. beat them!!