Saturday Oakland Athletics rookie catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first MLB player to kneel during the National Anthem and join the NFL and NBA in the growing silent protest against racial injustice. Maxwell’s decision reportedly came after Donald Trump during Friday night rally called for NFL player – and really any player for that matter – to be “fired” if they in fact knelt during the National Anthem.
If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL,or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
…our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Ironically enough the Anthem Protest was started in the Bay Area by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016. It has since grown up and down the ranks for sports from pee wee football to high school, collage and up through the pros.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=31&v=kjjynavGOkY
Unfortunately for the orange blowhard in the Oval Office, his cry for teams to punish the players for not standing during the National Anthem has largely fallen on the deaf ears of owners. Take for instance the A’s who came out in support of Maxwell or any player on their roster for that matter who chooses to take a knee.
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) September 24, 2017
Meanwhile Maxwell tweeted earlier on Saturday that he wouldn’t be surprised if more athletes started taking part in the protest.
https://twitter.com/bruu_truu13/status/911635946046611456
He’s probably right.
