Are Baseball Players Kneeling During The National Anthem?

A look at the history of baseball players kneeling during the National Anthem and what the current debate is about.

Introduction

Since the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, 2020, there have been widespread protests against police brutality and racial injustice across the United States. These protests were reignited after the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 23, 2020.

During these protests, many professional athletes have taken a knee during the playing of the national anthem as a form of protest. This gesture was popularized by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Taking a knee during the national anthem has since become a symbol of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

As of August 2020, it is unclear how many MLB players are kneeling during the national anthem because the league has not released this information. However, several players have spoken out about their decision to kneel or not to kneel during the national anthem.

What led to baseball players kneeling during the national anthem?

It all started with Colin Kaepernick, a professional football player who decided to kneel during the national anthem in order to protest police brutality and racial inequality in the United States. His decision to kneel sparked a nationwide movement, with many other athletes, including baseball players, following suit.

Protests against racial injustice and police brutality

In the wake of high-profile police shootings of Black Americans, some professional baseball players have joined the nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality by taking a knee during the pre-game playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The protest movement began in 2016, when NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem to call attention to what he saw as systemic racism and police brutality against Black Americans. Since then, other professional athletes in various sports have followed suit, including baseball players such as Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics and Edwin Jackson of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Many of those who have joined the protest say that they are doing so to show solidarity with Black Americans and other people of color who have been subjected to racism and violence. Some also hope that their actions will lead to concrete changes in the way that police treat Black Americans and other minorities.

Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest

In 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started a movement when he chose to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told NFL Media at the time. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Other players soon joined Kaepernick’s protest, and it quickly spread throughout the NFL and beyond. In 2017, President Donald Trump blasted players who knelt during the anthem, saying they should be fired. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you’d say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired,'” Trump said during a rally in Alabama.

The protests continued into 2018, with some players choosing to kneel while others remained standing but with their fists raised or linked together. At an NFL preseason game that year, two Miami Dolphins players — wide receiver Kenny Stills and safety Albert Wilson — took a knee during the anthem while several other teammates remained standing and one linked arms with them. All of the players involved were booed by fans as they knelt.

How have baseball players responded to kneeling during the national anthem?

Many baseball players have kneeled during the national anthem in recent years as a way to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Some players, like San Francisco Giants outfielder Jaylin Davis, have been kneeling since 2018. Others, like Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, only started kneeling this season.

Some players have joined in the protests

Some players have joined in the protests against racial injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem, while others have chosen to stand. The movement began in 2016 when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

Some players have remained standing

Since the start of the 2018 MLB season, no players have joined Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. A number of high-profile players, including San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence and Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, have stated their support for Kaepernick’s movement. However, they have remained standing during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Some players have spoken out against the protests

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was one of the first players to speak out against the protests, saying that he would never kneel during the anthem because of the sacrifices made by his family members in the military. “There’s nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe in,” Bradley said. “If you don’t believe what’s going on in this country is right, then go out and do something about it.”

Many other players have followed suit,with some even calling for an end to the protests altogether. San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey said that he respected “everyone’s right to protest,” but added that he thought it was time to “move beyond” anthem demonstrations. Minnesota Twins pitcher Ervin Santana said he believed players should find a different way to protest, while Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver said he thought it was “disrespectful” to kneel during the anthem.

What has been the reaction from fans?

There has been a mixed reaction from fans since some players started kneeling during the national anthem. Some people believe that it is a sign of respect, while others believe that it is disrespectful. What do you think?

Some fans have supported the players

Many fans have taken to social media to express their support for the players who have chosen to kneel during the national anthem. Some fans have even started a petition asking Major League Baseball (MLB) to “require all players to stand during the playing of our National Anthem.”

Some fans have booed the players

The reaction from fans has been a mixed bag. Some people have booed the players who have chosen to kneel, while others have cheered them on. There has been a lot of debate on social media about whether or not this is an appropriate form of protest.

Some fans have stopped watching baseball

Sports are meant to be a unifying experience, but lately, they have been anything but. Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL quarterback, started a nationwide movement when he kneeled during the pre-game playing of the national anthem as a way to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Since then, other players have joined in, and the issue has polarizing fans across the country.

Some fans have stopped watching baseball altogether because of the protests. They see it as disrespectful to the country and our military veterans. Other fans see it as a much-needed conversation starter about race relations in America.

What do you think?

Conclusion

It is difficult to say definitively whether or not any baseball players are kneeling during the national anthem, as there is no official stance on the matter from the MLB. However, based on interviews and comments from various players and coaches, it seems that there is not a widespread practice of kneeling among baseball players during the national anthem. While some players have spoken out in support of kneeling as a form of protest, it does not appear that this is a common occurrence at MLB games.