NBC Bay Area
Several San Francisco Giants players and coaches, including manager Gabe Kapler, Jaylin Davis, coach Antoan Richardson, Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski decided to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem Monday night before the team’s exhibition game against the Oakland A’s.
The act was then broadcast on the MLB’s official Twitter account for the world to see.
Members of the @SFGiants kneel during the National Anthem. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/QbvAvCZiEs
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2020
Of course, there were a few annoying fans who didn’t think the MLB should be condoning players kneeling during the anthem.
pllllleeeeaaaseeee stop posting things like this. yes black lives do indeed matter. but it’s a polarizing topic. keep politics out of baseball!
— gardy (@GardySZN_) July 21, 2020
The national anthem is sang for our military not our law enforcement firstly. You kneel you're disrespecting your military. Yes black lives matter, kneeling for the national is showing complete lack of respect for out men and women fighting for your freedom
— Mike G (@Mike25555) July 21, 2020
The MLB’s official Twitter account went on to fire back at fans who were opposed to players kneeling during the anthem in support of the BLM movement.
MLB comes out in support of kneeling during the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/mavAhVGVhr
— Jerry Dunleavy 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) July 21, 2020
Supporting human rights is not political.
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2020
It has never been about the military or the flag. The players and coaches are using their platforms to peacefully protest.
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2020