OAKLAND, Calif.– San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler and numerous of his players knelt throughout the national anthem prior to Monday nights exhibition video game against the Oakland Athletics.
Fielder Jaylin Davis and first-base coach Antoan Richardson, both of whom are Black, likewise took a knee as shortstop Brandon Crawford stood in between them with a hand on each of their shoulders. Davis held his right-hand man over his heart, while Richardson, who is Black and from the Bahamas, clasped his hands in front of him.
It was on the same field where former As catcher Bruce Maxwell in 2017 became the very first major leaguer to kneel for the anthem.
2 RelatedKapler, starting his first season managing the Giants after two disappointing years assisting the Phillies, didnt discuss his plans to kneel in a pregame session with media members.
Kapler has been outspoken about social injustice and racial concerns and professional athletes functions in assisting spur positive modification.
“They felt strong about the issue so they knelt,” As pitcher Mike Fiers said.
Previous San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee during the nationwide anthem in 2016 to oppose racial inequality and police mistreatment of minorities. He was roundly criticized for several years, however public belief has changed given that George Floyds death in May.
Floyd, a Black man, passed away after a white Minneapolis cops officer pressed his knee into Floyds neck while Floyd was handcuffed and saying that he couldnt breathe.
