A’s catcher takes a knee
Major League Baseball has its first anthem protester.
A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell kneeled during the national anthem before his team’s game on Saturday. Maxwell’s teammate Mark Canha stood behind him and put his hand on his shoulder in a show of solidarity. The two hugged at the conclusion of the anthem.
The A’s released a statement supporting Maxwell.
“The Oakland A’s pride ourselves on being inclusive. We respect and support all of our players’ constitutional rights and freedom of expression,” they announced.
Earlier in the day, Maxwell, who was born on an American military base in Germany and is the son of an Army officer, took to Instagram and unleashed on President Trump.
“Yeah f--- this guy!” Maxwell wrote. “Our president speaks of inequality of man because players are protesting the anthem! F--- this man!” AP
After the game, Maxwell told reporters he is ready to deal with the backlash from taking a knee.
“I know negativity is coming my way. I checked my phone a few minutes ago. I get nasty DMs and everything, but that also shows what’s wrong with this country,” Maxwell said. “People think athletes should shut up and get their money and play their sport, but no matter how much money we make, no matter how many touchdowns we score, no matter how many home runs we hit, it doesn’t mean we aren’t people. Our paychecks don’t silence us.”
Maxwell made it clear that the racial tensions in the country right now are starting at the top with President Trump.
“Right now we’re having a racial divide in all types of people,” he said.
“It’s being practiced from the highest power that we have in this country, and he’s basically saying that it’s OK to treat people differently.”