Expos Fans (All Of 'Em) Protest





from the Associated Press :

Hundreds of Montreal Expos fans held a rally near Olympic Stadium on Saturday in the faint hope of dissuading baseball from moving their hometown team.

Several speakers, including Jacques Doucet, the club's longtime French broadcaster, and Michel Filteau, who organized the rally, addressed a crowd of approximately 500 people in a parking lot adjacent to the Pierre Charbonneau Centre.

Doucet told the crowd he was "proud and disappointed" to be speaking to them.

"I said I was proud because of the support that these fans showed about keeping the team here, and I was disappointed because of the reasons that we were there," Doucet said Saturday night just before the first pitch of Montreal's game against Philadelphia.

Following the 30-minute rally, the group marched along the grounds of the Olympic Park to gather again outside Olympic Stadium.

"I think the fans could be the spark for the renewal or the rebirth of the Expos," Filteau said. "It will pass by the fans first. They have to take the leadership in that cause. Like with Minnesota, when they decided to contract the Twins the whole community got behind saving the team, so we have to do the same thing."

One of the many signs displayed during the rally read: "Selig is not my Bud."

After the rally, the 500 protesters made their way to Olympic Stadium for Saturday's Phillies/Expos game, which was attended by nearly 500 fans.

Posted: Sun - September 26, 2004 at 11:50 PM      

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