LIV Golf will hold its second tournament at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Ridge, Oregon, but not without a response from officials.
The PGA Tour rival has received a large response due to its ties with the Saudi Arabian government. The league has been successful in attracting golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Brooks Kopka, Bryson DeChenbu, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson from Rory McIlroy and others.
Oregonians have a particular problem with Saudi Arabia. Abdulrahman Sameer Norah, a Saudi national, was charged in 2016 with the murder of 15-year-old Fallon Smart in Portland.
However, the Saudi consulate appeared to have posted a $ 100,000 bond with Noura. His tracking device has been removed and appears to have disappeared. U.S. officials believe the Saudi government helped arrange for a fake passport and provided him with a private jet to fly to Saudi Arabia.
With LIV golf in the state, Fallon’s death went unnoticed by Oregon authorities.
“It is wrong to remain silent when Saudi Arabia tries to clean its blood-stained hands. Oregonians are fighting for justice – Fallon Smart was murdered near our home in southeastern Portland and the man accused of the crime was killed and executed. Given, “Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Or. Told the Associated Press.
Wyden also accused the Saudis of sportswashing.
He said, “This is just a page, with the expectation of normalizing their misuse of athletics by covering up injustice in the dictator’s playbook.”
Among those who signed the letter expressing concern about the protest was North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan. LIV prohibits golf ticket holders from protesting during the event. Only 3,400 people live in the city.
“We oppose the program because it is being sponsored by an oppressive government whose human rights violations have been documented. We refuse to support these abuses by allowing a Saudi-backed organization to play in our backyard,” read a letter from Lenahan and 10 others. Mayor
