Did the Philadelphia Eagles endorse Harris for president? – Washington Examiner

At a bus stop on 34th Street, in Philadelphia’s University City section, a giant poster, between 5 and 6 feet tall, was enclosed in a case at a bus stand for the city’s public transportation company. It featured a cartoonish graphic resembling Vice President Kamala Harris, who wore an Eagles helmet, held a football, and had on a black top. Then there was the Eagles logo above the word “Kamala,” which was above text that said “official candidate of the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Apparently, this image was not the only one in the city. Social media featured numerous posts of the graphic being reported in locations throughout Philadelphia’s Center City area. The posters’ existence caused quite a frenzy throughout the city, with many people angry the team would support a candidate like Harris. It also left people wondering if the poster is as authentic and legitimate as it looked and why the Eagles would endorse a presidential candidate when the organization has never done so. 

In search of answers to these questions, I contacted the Philadelphia Eagles media relations officials. The team directed me to a statement it had posted on its social media accounts. 

“We are aware counterfeit political ads are being circulated and are working with our advertising partner to have them removed,” the release said.

So, the first question was answered: The Philadelphia Eagles did not endorse Harris for president with political posters placed around the city. But if the Eagles didn’t do this, how could it happen? This wasn’t just some flier posted around the city on telephone polls. It was enclosed in a locked display case at a bus stand about 6.5 feet tall. 

I asked the Eagles this very question on Monday, but the team declined to comment. Instead, a media relations representative once again directed me to the team’s statement on social media as its only comment on the incident.

Still searching for an answer, I contacted the media relations department at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia’s public transportation company. It informed me that SEPTA doesn’t own the bus stands and is not responsible for the advertisements placed there. That responsibility belonged to the city of Philadelphia. 

“SEPTA does not own the bus shelters, so we don’t handle those ad spaces,” a representative said. “The shelters are owned by the city.”

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Attempts to contact the city of Philadelphia’s media inquiry department late Monday afternoon have been unsuccessful. This story will be updated accordingly.

However, if true, this would seem to be an egregious violation of ethics. Philadelphia would have been responsible for publishing this deceptive image without permission from the Philadelphia Eagles. Furthermore, if the city approved it, it would also seem that this image was used as political propaganda to misrepresent the Philadelphia Eagles and try to interfere with people’s thinking about how to vote in the election.