A Miami Dolphins season ticket holder is suing the team after she claims she was kicked out of a game earlier this season for kneeling during the national anthem and using a derogatory term toward President Donald Trump.
In a complaint filed in Broward County Court on October 31st, Cindy Niad Hannah says she was removed from Hard Rock Stadium by team personnel during the October 22nd game against the New York Jets.
Niad Hannah says she took a knee during the Star Spangled Banner from her seat inside the stadium. When her husband asked her why, Niad Hannah claimed she was kneeling in support of “the players and Congresswoman (Frederica) Wilson and against a------ Trump," the complaint said.
A security official came up to Niad Hannah and her husband and said the people seated next to them had complained about the vulgar word, according to the complaint.
She later claims the security officials asked to see Niad Hannah’s phone, saying she was taking pictures of those seated next to her and asked the couple to leave when Niad Hannah attempted to tell that official that pictures were being taken of her.
Niad Hannah’s husband was told by team officials the following day, according to the claim, that the derogatory word was the reason they were removed.
Dolphins VP of communications Jason Jenkins told NBC 6 via email that Niad Hannah was ejected for "repeated violations of the fan code of conduct," which include foul and abusive language being prohibited. Jenkins said the removal had nothing to do with kneeling during the anthem.
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Niad Hannah claims the team violated that same code with fans by allowing two people to sit behind her during the first game of the season that didn’t have tickets for those seats, which is also prohibited.
She is asking for, among other items, the price of her four tickets and parking to be reimbursed for the first two games of the season - as well as the security official to be fired from their job.
