Who is George Norcross? NJ political boss kicked out of Eagles game for flying Israel-America flag
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: George Norcross, a prominent New Jersey political figure with deep connections to influential Democrats, found himself at the center of attention at a Philadelphia Eagles game in 2023, Daily Mail reports.
Known as New Jersey's "most powerful unelected individual," Norcross is highly sought after for endorsements and fundraising by the state's Democrats.
Security removed George Norcross from the Eagles game today because he hung an American and Israeli flag outside his box. Then they tore down the flag. pic.twitter.com/3agNgr3X0E
— Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) November 6, 2023
George Norcross' recent ejection from Philadelphia Eagles game
However, his presence at the recent Philadelphia Eagles game against the Dallas Cowboys took an unexpected turn. Norcross was ejected from the stadium for proudly displaying an American-Israeli flag outside his luxury suite. The incident was captured on video and shared widely.
As the half-American, half-Israeli flag fluttered outside Norcross' suite, security personnel were quick to intervene. They escorted him out and removed the flag from public view, marking a surprising and controversial moment at the game.
Lincoln Financial Field, the venue where the Philadelphia Eagles play, does not have a specific policy against the display of such flags. However, they maintain rules regarding signs and banners that may disrupt the experience for other fans.
The 2014 guidelines state, "Lincoln Financial Field reserves the right to confiscate signs that are in violation of stadium policy."
George Norcross is known for close ties to both Democrats and Republicans
Interestingly, Major League Soccer (MLS) remains the only major American sports league to react directly to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Following a Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis on October 7, MLS introduced a temporary policy banning "flags representing a country or nationality at MLS matches."
Meanwhile, in England's Premier League, Israeli and Palestinian flags are currently banned from games as well.
Norcross, previously a prominent organizer, fundraiser, and activist for Democratic Party politics, has recently scaled back his political involvement. He was known for his close ties to both Democrats and Republicans, counting former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi among his friends and holding a membership at Mar-a-Lago.
Norcross was also a key ally of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, helping him navigate a political landscape dominated by Democrats during his two terms in office.
After the 2021 election that saw Governor Phil Murphy narrowly secure re-election, Norcross acknowledged that his political influence had waned, stating, "We had a great run for almost 25 years. And now it's time for others to lead the party."
Norcross family's support for Israel
George Norcross' strong support for Israel is a family affair. His brother, Donald Norcross, a Democrat and member of the House of Representatives, demonstrated his commitment to the Jewish state by joining a Congressional delegation to Tel Aviv just three days after the October 7 attack.
During this trip, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed his support for Israel. Donald Norcross emphasized the importance of the US-Israel relationship, calling Israel the United States' "closest and most important ally in the Middle East."