NBC Bay Area
The MLB season opens in just a few days and like the NFL the league has found itself in a controversy surrounding the national anthem.
On Monday night, several San Francisco Giants players and coaches, including manager Gabe Kapler, Jaylin Davis, coach Antoan Richardson, Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski took a knee during the playing of the national anthem took support the Black Lives Matter movement on Monday night before the team’s exhibition game against the Oakland A’s.
Members of the @SFGiants kneel during the National Anthem. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/QbvAvCZiEs
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2020
The MLB’s official Twitter account would go on to defend the Giants players’ decision to kneel during the anthem after angry fans criticized the league for sharing the video of the players protesting.
MLB comes out in support of kneeling during the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/mavAhVGVhr
— Jerry Dunleavy 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) July 21, 2020
On Tuesday morning President Trump weighed in on the matter on Twitter.
Looking forward to live sports, but any time I witness a player kneeling during the National Anthem, a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag, the game is over for me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2020
People who were opposed to the Giants players kneeling then began using the #BoycottMLB hashtag which began trending soon after.
https://twitter.com/JoeSunshine6/status/1285406790776172544
https://twitter.com/RdH1SW1/status/1285581305154097155
https://twitter.com/dbongino/status/1285532245198082051
I’m done will not watch baseball!!!! Baseball fan for 60 years @MLB #boycottbaseball #boycottMLB https://t.co/gV1WwmNITY
— Jim Stevenson (USMC) I follow all Patriots🇺🇸 (@JamesOliverTrad) July 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/lifeis2short333/status/1285566407803953152
https://twitter.com/raysim52/status/1285558841250394112