Gun control activists on Sunday flew an airplane banner over the stadium where the New York Jets were set to play a few hours later, urging the team to act on gun violence by ending its new partnership with MGM Resorts.
MGM Resorts International, the official gaming partner of the Jets as of two weeks ago, is the same company that sued almost 2,000 gun violence victims in order to avoid liability for the shots fired from one of its resort rooms in Las Vegas during the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
The airplane banner, which circled the MetLife Stadium, read, “SHAME ON JETS/MGM #ENDGUNVIOLENCE #STOPMGM,” according to the Associated Press.
It was not immediately known who bought the banner.
Airplane banner denounces #Jets’ gaming deal partnership with MGM in light of casino operator suing victims of Las Vegas shooting last year.
Story: https://t.co/pBxTA4F4k7 pic.twitter.com/aXglYqoahb
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) November 11, 2018
MGM Resorts in a statement to the AP responded to the airplane banner, saying, “We wholeheartedly agree that our country needs to put an end to gun violence.”
The Jets declined to comment for the report.
The nearly 1,900 lawsuits against victims filed by MGM Resorts International argue that MGM cannot be held liable for deaths and injures from the mass shooting under a 2002 law passed by Congress, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Last month, MGM agreed to stay the pending litigation, entering into mediation, according to the AP.
The lawsuits came months after 58 people were killed and hundreds were injured in a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas. The shooter carried out the attack while overlooking the venue from his 32nd floor hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
New Yorkers and gun control activists have railed against the Jets’ decision to partner with MGM since their partnership was officially announced two weeks ago.
“New York’s about people and gun control is about keeping people alive,” New York state senator Jessica Ramos tweeted. “@MGMResortsIntl is unconscionably suing shooting victims and just doesn’t get it, so they’re not welcomed here.”
New York’s about people and gun control is about keeping people alive. @MGMResortsIntl is unconscionably suing shooting victims and just doesn’t get it, so they’re not welcomed here. #StopMGM https://t.co/fPvoYX6mBV
— Jessica Ramos (@jessicaramos) November 10, 2018
“It’s concerning that the @NYJets enter into this partnership w/ @MGMResortsIntl,” tweeted New York state assembly member Robert Rodriguez. “MGM is suing the victims of the Mandalay Bay shooting in LasVegas to escape liability. This is shameful to the victims, fans & people of NY.”
It’s concerning that the @NYJets enter into this partnership w/ @MGMResortsIntl. MGM is suing the victims of the Mandalay Bay shooting in LasVegas to escape liability. This is shameful to the victims, fans & people of NY. @NRA @MGMResortsntl @NRA #StopMGMhttps://t.co/ISEmQPWNvD
— Robert J. Rodriguez (@_rjayrodriguez) November 8, 2018
