America First Policy Institute files FOIA request concerning Enes Kanter Freedom's ejection from Chicago Sky game
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The America First Policy Institute has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority seeking records on the security and access decisions that led to Enes Kanter Freedom's removal from a Chicago Sky game at Wintrust Arena.
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) filed a six-page request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act on Friday, asking the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) for documents related to the security and access procedures that resulted in former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom being escorted out of a Chicago Sky game at Wintrust Arena. The request seeks agreements among MPEA, arena operator Oak View Group, the Chicago Sky and the WNBA, as well as security policies, law-enforcement contracts, communications identifying who authorized Freedom’s removal and ban, and records of any federal funding received by the arena.
Freedom attended the Sunday game between the Sky and the Indiana Fever wearing a shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.” During a third-quarter timeout, Sky guard Natasha Cloud approached his courtside seat, leading to a verbal exchange. Security later escorted Freedom from the venue after he stepped toward the court.
"Enes Freedom exercised his constitutional right as an American when he attended the WNBA game in Chicago," AFPI chief legal affairs officer Leigh Ann O’Neill said in a statement. "Today, we launched an investigation, seeking critical documents that will assist in our efforts to ensure that public entities are held accountable when American’s constitutional rights are trampled."
MPEA, a municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly with board members appointed by the state governor and Chicago mayor, owns Wintrust Arena, which operates through a public-private partnership with DePaul University. AFPI’s request does not allege a rights violation but aims to determine whether actions by the Sky or arena staff can be attributed to a public entity. The institute asked MPEA to preserve relevant emails, texts and internal communications while providing records on a rolling basis. No lawsuit has been filed.
OutKick has contacted MPEA and the Chicago Sky for comment.