MLB has its first national anthem kneeler.
Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell knelt during the national anthem played before Saturday’s A’s-Rangers game in Oakland.
From the @sfchronicle’s Santiago Mejia, here is A’s rookie Bruce Maxwell becoming the first MLB player to take a knee for the anthem: pic.twitter.com/q8QVY9hW15
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 24, 2017
Maxwell is African-American, and despite kneeling, the San Francisco Chronicle describes him as very patriotic. You can see he held his cap over his heart for the anthem. They say his father was in the Army.
Maxwell appeared to be moved to kneel after being troubled by President Trump’s “son of a b—-” comment Friday night about those who kneel in the NFL. Take a look at what he wrote on Twitter:
Don't be surprised if you start seeing athletes kneeling in other sports now!! Comments like that coming from our president. WOW!
— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017
Inequality is being displayed bigger than ever right now as our president shows that freeedom of protest and speech is not allowed..
— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017
This now has gone from just a BlackLives Matter topic to just complete inequality of any man or woman that wants to stand for Their rights!
— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017
Maxwell, 26, has been in concussion protocol since taking a foul ball off his mask on Wednesday. The catcher is batting .244 on the season.
The A’s may have known about Maxwell’s plans to kneel, because they sent this statement of supporting shortly after the anthem:
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) September 24, 2017
