Two Year Anniversary of the Attack on Giants Fan Bryan Stow – Can Good Come From Such a Horrilbe Incident?

Posted on March 31, 2013 by John Doublin

Two years ago today the sports community was forever changed when San Francisco Giants’ fan, Bryan Stow, nearly paid the ultimate price for his team loyalty. Stow traveled the 300 miles to cheer for his beloved Giants at the home of their rival, and was beaten almost to death in the parking lot of a Los Angeles Dodgers’ home game leaving him with severe brain injury.

This incident brought the issue of fan violence to the forefront, prompting the creation of FansAgainstViolence.org. All of a sudden, fan violence was a topic of conversation on a national level. Major news outlets, such as CNN, FoxNews, and MSNBC were all talking about the violence in the stands.

Bryan Stow and Family

Since that day, Mr. Stow has been slowly recovering from his injuries, though a full recovery is not likely, as his injuries were numerous and severe. Mr. Stow’s family has since started a website, which updates well-wishers and fans of his current condition, along with improvements and changes in his condition.

So, what does all of this mean? What should we take away from this tragic and senseless act of violence? Is there a “silver lining?” Those questions are difficult to answer.

One way to look at the result of this terrible incident is that the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and the NCAA have all taken steps to protect fans in the stands. There are emergency security text code numbers fans can use to report fights and disturbances, stadiums have increased security and, most importantly, most fans are no longer tolerant of people such as those men who attacked Mr. Stow. Decent people in stadiums all across the country, and the world, are reporting violence in the stands more readily. This incident also prompted California legislation, the Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act, authored by Assemblyman Mike Gatto(D-Los Angeles) which requires all professional sports venues in California to have a Security Text Code program in place. That, in and of itself, should be counted as a minor victory.

It’s sad that it took the near death of a fan to bring this problem to the forefront of conversation, but as Mr. Stow and his family attempt to heal and return to some sense of a normal life, they can take solace in the fact that, although it came in the wake of such a horrific event in their lives, the likelihood of this happening to someone else in the future is greatly diminished due to his story.

Fans Against Violence continues to support Mr. Stow and his family as they live through this tragedy. As always, we send our well-wishes and prayers to the Stow family. FAV will continue to do everything possible to prevent this from happening again.

To see ways you can help or get involved with FAV, please visit our Get Involved page.
If you would like to donate to Bryan Stows family directly, you can visit our Donate to Bryan Stow page.

We cannot change things on our own, but by raising awareness and offering suggestions to prevent this sort of thing, through the support of fans, teams and leagues, we will be able to make a difference in “Taking Back the Stands!”

What Can Sports Fans do to Take a More Proactive Approach Against Violence?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by FAV

We have had a lot of questions and comments in regards to our posting challenging fans to step up and take a more proactive approach in ending fan violence. Many of you have responded asking what it is you can do.

First and foremost, if you see something escalating, please do not try to get involved. We would never want anyone to put themselves or their family in danger. The best thing you can do is use the Game Day Security Hotlines and Text code to alert security to the issue. All calls are anonymous, so there is no need to be concerned about retaliation.

Although it is important that the venues do everything they can to ensure the fans safety, we as fans have to take on some of the responsibility. Along with the Game Day Security Hotlines and Text code we have also put together a list of Game Day Safety Tips. Please read them. Some of the tips may seem obvious but they are all important.

Lastly, with all of the recent incidents and all of the media attention to the issue of Fan Violence, many fans are afraid and on edge when attending a game. Remember be kind and respectful to all fans, no matter what team they are rooting for. At the end of the day, we are all fans of the sport. The smallest gesture of saying “hi” or “welcome to our stadium” to an opposing fan can make the largest impact!

Incident After Dodgers’ Game Highlights Need for Fans to be Proactive in Eliminating Violence at Sporting Events

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Anna Mohr

It’s another sad day for baseball fans and compassionate human beings alike as news has broken that yet another person has become the victim of violence following a Los Angeles Dodgers’ game over the weekend. The victim, whose name has not been released, was driving one of the vehicles involved in a fender bender while exiting the parking lot of Dodger Stadium. According to reports, the victim was pulled from his car and held down by three men, assumed to have been riding in a third vehicle, and was repeatedly hit and kicked by the driver of the other car involved in the accident.

This April 10, 2012 file photo shows Los Angeles Police mounted patrol officers Steve Cooper, left, aboard Jimbo and Roger Johnson on Ranger watching Dodger fans arrive for the home opener baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Stadium security and off-duty uniformed police officers working for the Dodgers responded to the scene quickly and arrested the four men. The victim, along with his pregnant passenger, was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Meanwhile, the assailants are, as of 12:45 p.m. PT today, still in custody, according to the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Jail. They are awaiting arraignment and are expected to be formally charged with assault with a deadly weapon. (In this instance, given the position of the victim and the number of attackers, feet and hands are considered “deadly weapons.”)

Kudos to the Dodgers and to the City of Los Angeles. Subsequent to the brutal attack on Bryan Stow at their stadium a little over a year ago, the Dodgers’ organization has taken steps in the right direction in an attempt to minimize attacks on their guests as well as apprehend spectators found to be in violation of city law and/or stadium policy. They are one of the few organizations who are permitted to hire off-duty LAPD officers to patrol their premises, in uniform. In addition, they hire undercover officers donning rival team jerseys to be present at every home game. Yet still, the violence continues.

Police and management can only do so much to combat this problem. In this most recent case, they responded as quickly as they were able, an undisputed claim. But they’re only human. Unless an officer happens to be standing in the middle of a brawl (and let’s face it, most people possess the minimal amount of common sense necessary to tell you not to break the law in plain view of a cop or security guard), he/she can only reach the victim as quickly as his/her legs can move. And while surveillance cameras may help, alerting authorities when a potentially dangerous situation arises and often used as evidence ex-post-facto, they are still just devices that can neither prevent nor halt a physical altercation.

The rest is up to us, the fans. It is up to us to absolutely insist upon acceptable behavior from our fellow game-goers. It is up to us to take responsibility for our own actions, and to think before we commit them. It only takes one decision and split seconds to change a life, many lives, including your own. Let’s start making the right ones. Indifference changes nothing. Demand concern. Demand outrage. Demand change.

Road to Recovery:Doctors Announce Bryan Stows Transfer to Rehab

Posted on October 11, 2011 by FAV

Although the road to recovery is far from over for San Francisco Giants Fan, Bryan Stow, today he has taken a step closer. It has been seven months since the brutal attack on Bryan Stow in the parking lot of the Los Angeles Dodgers home opener after the game. Having suffered severe brain injury the outlook looked grim.

Today his outlook seems a little brighter. In a press conference this afternoon, Stow’s Doctors announced that he has been released from San Francisco General to an undisclosed rehabilitation center. Although the lasting effects on Bryan Stow as a result of the attack are still unknown, his family has reported that he is now speaking in full sentences and is moving his limbs.

As always our thoughts and prayers are with Bryan and his family. We are so happy to hear he is making progress. Please take a moment to visit the Bryan Stow Donation page we have established on FAV and give what you can to help this family in need. All proceeds from this page go directly to the Stow family.

Giants Host Dodgers for 3-Game Series on Heels of ‘Strike Out the Violence’

Posted on September 9, 2011 by FAV

Tonight the San Francisco Giants host the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first of a three game series at AT&T Ballpark. This, one of the most heated rivalries in baseball, is still healing from the brutal beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodgers Stadium earlier this year. Bryan remains in critical condition more than five months after the incident.

Fans Against Violence applauds the San Francisco Giants for their ongoing efforts to curb violence with their 10th Annual ‘Strike Out the Violence’ Day on September 3rd.

We encourage all fans attending this series to continue the message of ‘Strike Out the Violence’ and conduct themselves with sportsmanship and respect of all fans in attendance. Your example is needed as we move forward with our campaign.

Have a fantastic weekend at the ballpark!

Assemblyman Gatto Proposes California Professional Sports Teams Pay Informants

Posted on September 5, 2011 by FAV

Assemblyman Mike Gatto out of Los Angeles is proposing legislation that would require each California professional sports franchise to contribute $50K to a violent offenders reward fund. He would like to use the fund to reward private citizens for assisting authorities identify and apprehend offenders of violent acts at sporting events.

Gatto sits on the California State Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media Committee, and will use a special proceeding to explore his proposal. You can view an interview with Mike Gatto on his proposal here.

Bryan Stow, a Giants fan who was critically beaten by two Dodger fans at Dodger Stadium in March 2011.

As many hypothesize as to why such high profile incidents have occurred recently (the Bryan Stow beating in Los Angeles and the Shooting at Candlestick Park), Gatto cites a cultural increase in violence, an escalation in sports fanatics, as well as alcohol consumption and insufficient security.

Gatto was born in 1974. From his 23rd birthday on, California had experience a sub-7% unemployment rate. That is, until 2008 when it creeped beyond. The UE rate has now been hovering around 12% for the last three years. Many of us Californians have not seen this level of financial desperation in our lifetime.

Elevated violent outbursts around events that thrive on competition and rivalry, while personal and emotional frustration is at an all time high seem to have a logical correlation.

Contradicting Gatto’s claim, violence crimes in California have fallen incrementally since 2006. Homicides are at a 44 year low, and other violent crimes are down more than 6% from 2009.

Alcohol sales at sporting events have become more and more restricted. When Gatto was a boy, beer vendors roamed the stands. Alcohol sales are now sold only at the vendor booth, with limits on quantities and sales end far before the game does.

Many venues have increased security presence both in their facility and in adjacent parking lots. They have encouraged interaction with fans, implemented text and anonymous calling options to report subjects of concern.

Gatto himself acknowledges that the attackers of Bryan Stow were identified through citizen participation without a reward fund.

As fans, we more than anyone understand the desire to keep our stands safe. Where that money could better be used, however, might be in helping Californians find jobs. Let the teams, and their home facilities, act responsibly with autonomy from the state, and encouragement from their leagues. Most of all, let them listen to those of us who patron their teams.