Major League Baseball on Monday came out in support of Black Lives Matter and national anthem protests.
The league shared a video to Twitter of members of the San Francisco Giants kneeling during the anthem at an exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics on Monday, commenting, “#BlackLivesMatter.”
- Giants manager Gabe Kapler knelt alongside another coach and several of his players and at the away game in an act of protest against racism and police brutality.
In response to criticism, the MLB Twitter account denied the protests were political or disrespectful to the U.S. military or flag.
MLB did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Throwing a change-up: Amid a national reckoning over race in recent months, U.S. professional sports leagues have joined much of corporate America in embracing the Black Lives Matter movement and, in some cases, national anthem protests.
- The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, said “Black Lives Matter” and reversed his opposition to anthem protests, which were popularized by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
- The NBA approved “Black Lives Matter” as one of 29 “social justice” slogans for players’ jerseys and promised to play the “black national anthem” before Week 1 games and to “work in partnership with the players” who might want violate the rule against kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
- U.S. Soccer affirmed “Black Lives Matter” and lifted its ban on kneeling during the anthem.
- NASCAR allowed a black driver to race in a “Black Lives Matter”-themed stock car, and the company forcefully condemned racism.
- The NHL, not to be left out, declared “#BlackLivesMatter.”
President Donald Trump in a tweet on Tuesday pushed back on the trend, calling kneeling by athletes during the anthem “a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag.”
Trump, speaking for many Americans, has previously denounced anthem protests and called “Black Lives Matter” a “symbol of hate.”
Also on Monday, The Washington Nationals announced Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on the coronavirus-delayed MLB Opening Day, July 23.
