Josuee Hernandez, a US Marines veteran, has gained national notoriety after protesting the Trail Blazers partnership with Leupold & Stevens during a home game on Tuesday night.
Hernandez, who was being honored as a “Hometown Hero,” unzipped a hoodie to reveal a t-shirt that said “End This Sponsorship #NoLeupold.” while being featured on the Rose Garden’s jumbotron.
Tonight’s Hometown Hero honoree unzipped his hoodie to reveal a t-shirt protesting the team’s partnership with military scope manufacturer Leupold and Stevens. The local DSA chapter has been protesting it for several months. pic.twitter.com/4ODapqq9dY
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) November 7, 2018
Hernandez, who is a member of Portland’s chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, explained his reasoning for the protest to Sports Illustrated:
“I first learned about the Trail Blazers’ contract with Leupold and Stevens shortly after the May 14th massacre in Gaza,” Hernandez said in a statement.