Austin FC Q2 Stadium on Sunday on June 6, 2021. Fans walked out of Q2 Stadium on Saturday as a protest against the club’s silence regarding issues with ICE.
Dallas Morning News
Fans of Austin FC staged a walkout Saturday at Q2 Stadium, citing issues with the soccer club’s actions after a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement-involved shooting in late September.
The walkout was led by Austin FC supporters’ group La Murga, which is also the all-volunteer live band during matches, and coordinated with Los Verdes and Austin Anthem, the original fan group for Austin FC.
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In video taken during Saturday’s contest against Nashville SC, the fans are seen displaying a sign reading “No ICE in this melting pot!” while waving flags behind the Austin FC goal. La Murga musicians continue to play, then at around 10 minutes into the match, the music ends. The fans behind the goal begin walking out of the stadium, leaving large swaths of green seats.
“On Saturday, La Murga de Austin walked out of Q2,” read an Instagram post by La Murga on Sunday. “This was not an easy decision. The heartbeat of Austin: the drums, the songs, the colors, the carnival—we bring all of it voluntarily, out of love for this club and this city. We love this club, but love is not silent.”
Walkout follows Austin ICE shooting
ICE agents shot and wounded 28-year-old Venezuelan national Wilber Garces Perez on Sept. 20 while he was making a DoorDash delivery. In the incident, Perez was stopped by ICE agents before shots were fired. Perez was later charged with assaulting, resisting or impending a federal officer.
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Austin FC fans during the first half against Nashville SC at Q2 Stadium on October 10, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Scott Wachter/Getty Images
Six days after the shooting, a fan and former Austin city council candidate named Daniela Silva wore a jersey to Austin FC’s home game against San Diego emblazoned with “Abolish ICE” on the back. Austin FC claimed Silva was offered a “complimentary T-shirt,” but ultimately she was ejected from the stadium. It was also Hispanic Heritage Night at Q2 Stadium.
Austin FC said it ejected Silva because her jersey violated the the venue policy at Q2, which says “signs, symbols or images for commercial purposes for electioneering, campaigning or advocating for or against any candidate, political party, legislative issues or government action are prohibited.”
“While Austin FC believes they adhered to their interpretation of the [the rules], we feel that particular message being prohibited hits too close to home in this current climate,” read a message posted Oct. 6 by Austin Anthem. “In the days since [the shooting], members of our community have questioned whether they feel safe and welcome returning to Q2. That should matter to Austin FC.”
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Los Verdes and Austin Anthem helped coordinate the walkout Saturday by asking fans to wear all black and “leave the verde at home.”
In its post after the match, La Murga said it’s “asking Austin to speak out—publicly, with conviction—against the injustice ICE is inflicting on the communities of Austin. The same communities the club says it supports. The same communities whose faces fill your marketing, whose voices fill your stadium, whose hands and hearts make this place what it is.”
In a statement to Chron on Sunday, Austin FC said it was working with supporters groups to address the issues at hand, something the supporters’ groups also noted in recent posts.
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“Austin FC remains committed to providing a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment for all fans,” read Austin FC’s statement. “Over the last two weeks, the Club initiated and has since engaged in several conversations with the leaders of its supporters’ groups to solicit feedback and answer additional questions.”