Oakland Athletics’ Bruce Maxwell took the knee again during the national anthem on Monday, as fury over Donald Trump’s comments continues to rage.
Maxwell was the first major leaguer to take a knee during the national anthem on Saturday, after President Trump said the NFL should bar players who knelt during the anthem in protest of police shootings of African Americans.
And on Monday, the 26-year-old rookie took the knee again during The Star-Spangled Banner before the game against the Seattle Mariners.
The entire marching band from Oakland Unified School District joined him by taking the knee during the anthem.
Once again, teammate Mark Canha put a hand on Maxwell’s shoulder in a show of support.
Oakland Athletics’ Bruce Maxwell took the knee again during the national anthem on Monday, as fury over Donald Trump’s comments continues to rage
Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, left, became the first major leaguer to take a knee during the National Anthem before the start of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Saturday, Sept. 23
Maxwell revealed he’s received threats since kneeling, including racial epithets and warnings ‘to watch my back.’
‘I mean, I expected it, it’s nothing different that I haven’t dealt with in my life,’ Maxwell said. ‘The threats that I’m getting are part of the problem.’
Maxwell hasn’t reported the threats to authorities.
‘We call these guys ‘keyboard warriors,” Maxwell said.
A’s manager Bob Melvin said Maxwell’s protest was a courageous act, noting that the decision to become the first player in the majors to adopt the protest came with risk.
‘It does take a lot of courage because you know that now the potential of the crosshairs are on you and for a guy who’s not as established, I’m sure, and I’m not speaking for him, but I’m sure there were some feelings for him that there was some risk,’ Melvin said before Sunday’s game.
Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha (20) placed his hand on the shoulder of Bruce Maxwell as Maxwell takes a knee during the national anthem prior to a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday
Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha (20) places his hand on the shoulder of Bruce Maxwell as Maxwell takes a knee during the national anthem prior to a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday,
‘I do know that he felt better about it afterwards because there’s a lot of uncertainty when you take that type of step.’
Canha acknowledged trepidation about his decision to support Maxwell.
‘I had to think about what I was going to do to show my support for Bruce, for 20 minutes, and even then I was hesitant to do it,’ Canha said.
‘Even then I was like, you know that fear of, I thought about Colin Kaepernick, well jeez – I love baseball, I want to play baseball, I love my job and love this country, I want to be part of this country, but to live in fear. Just the fact that I had that small amount of fear and that small amount of hesitation, speaks volumes about that we need some change.’
Kaepernick was the first athlete to take a knee during the anthem while playing quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He is now a free agent, and his supporters believe NFL teams have refused to sign him because of his protests.
Maxwell also received support from NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant of the champion Golden State Warriors.
Later on Saturday, pop music legend Stevie Wonder began his appearance at a concert in New York’s Central Park by dropping down to one knee in an act he said was ‘for America’
Wonder was helped by his son, Kwame Morris. Soon afterward, Wonder was trending on Twitter
‘More power to him, man. He’s standing up for something great,’ Durant said across town after the team’s second practice of training camp. ‘We all respect it, support it and appreciate it.’
Maxwell doesn’t believe his activism will hurt his career and said he’s determined to continue with it regardless.
‘I’ve talked to our superiors (Melvin and A’s general manager David Forst) and they understand why I’m doing it and they respect the fact that I am doing it,’ Maxwell said.
On his first game back after taking the knee, Maxwell also received a standing ovation from the fans in Oakland as he went up to home plate for his first at-bat since.
While not every single fan was on their feet, the shots of the stands showed many fans letting Maxwell know exactly how they felt about his actions in a positive and supportive way — and being as loud as they could in a stadium that wasn’t exactly full.
At the beginning of the game, the marching band performing the anthem took a knee as well.
Teammate Mark Canha placed his hand on Maxwell’s shoulder in a show of support
Maxwell was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, where his father was stationed as a soldier in the US Army
There’s certainly a chance that other fan bases could act differently if more baseball players decide to take a knee in the future. But for Maxwell to be welcomed to the field in this manner after protesting shows that at least for one night fans were on his, and his message’s, side and wanted him to feel OK about his decision.
Maxwell is a rookie player without a national following who could have experienced a lot more backlash from local fans than happened here. It’s great for baseball and Maxwell’s message that his intentions spurred this positivity instead.
Earlier on Saturday, Maxwell had posted a number of tweets denouncing Trump for saying that the NFL should bar players who knelt during the anthem in protest of police shootings of African Americans.
He also hinted that he would take a knee during the anthem – a gesture that no other professional baseball player has made since the trend was first started last year by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Maxwell, who is black, tweeted earlier Saturday: ‘Don’t be surprised if you start seeing athletes kneeling in other sports now!! Comments like that coming from our president. WOW!’
He also tweeted: ‘Yeah I bet [Trump] doesn’t step to Kaepernick in person and call him and the other protesters a ‘son of a b***h.’ Ignorance from our Pres.’
Earlier in the day, Maxwell posted a number of tweets denouncing Trump for saying that the NFL should bar players who knelt during the anthem in protest of police shootings of African Americans. He also hinted that he would stage a similar protest
Maxwell’s team, the Athletics, issued a statement on Twitter supporting their player’s decision to kneel during the anthem
‘Inequality is being displayed bigger than ever right now as our president shows that freeedom of protest and speech is not allowed,’ he tweeted.
Maxwell’s team, the Athletics, issued a statement on Twitter supporting their player’s decision to kneel during the anthem.
‘The Oakland A’s pride ourselves on being inclusive. We respect and support all our players’ constitutional rights and freedom of expression.’
Maxwell was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, where his father was stationed as a soldier in the Army, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
He grew up in Alabama and defines himself as a patriotic American.
‘Bruce’s father is a proud military lifer,’ his agent, Matt Sosnick, told the Chronicle.
‘Anyone who knows Bruce or his parents is well aware that the Maxwells’ love and appreciation for our country is indisputable.
Trump and the sports world engaged in an intensifying spat on Saturday after he called for National Football League owners to fire players who protest during the national anthem. Eli Harold (58), Colin Kaepernick (7), and Eric Reid are seen protesting during a game this year
‘Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b***h off the field right now… He is fired’,’ Trump said on Friday at a rally for Alabama Senate Republican candidate Luther Strange
‘Bruce has made it clear that he is taking a stand about what he perceives as racial injustices in this country, and his personal disappointment with President Trump’s response to a number of professional athletes’ totally peaceful, non-violent protests.
‘Bruce has shared with both me and his teammates that his feelings have nothing to do with a lack of patriotism or a hatred of any man, but rather everything to do with equality for men, women and children regardless of race or religion.’
Meanwhile, on the opposite coast of the United States, pop legend Stevie Wonder began his set at the Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park by declaring: ‘I’m taking a knee for America.’
Wonder then dropped down to both knees as he was helped by his son, Kwame Morris.
Footage of the dramatic moment was captured by MSNBC, which broadcast the event.
Both Wonder and Maxwell became trending topics on Twitter after a day in which professional athletes reacted with anger to Trump’s comments on Friday about protesting football players.
Trump and the sports world engaged in an intensifying spat on Saturday after he called for National Football League owners to fire players who protest during the national anthem and disinvited a National Basketball Association star from a White House visit.
NBA superstar LeBron James posted a video to social media on Saturday explaining his tweet in which he called Trump ‘a bum’ for disinviting fellow hoops star Stephen Curry to the White House
Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha (20) places his hand on the shoulder of Bruce Maxwell as Maxwell takes a knee during the national anthem prior to a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Responding to Trump’s attacks on football players who protested during the national anthem, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Saturday that Trump’s statements revealed ‘unfortunate lack of respect’ for the NFL and its players.
Goodell’s statement was released a day after Trump suggested any protesting football player was a ‘son of a b***h’ and should lose his job.
‘Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b***h off the field right now… He is fired’,’ Trump said on Friday at a rally for Alabama Senate Republican candidate Luther Strange.
Later on Saturday, Trump said in Twitter messages, that if NFL players wanted ‘the privilege’ of high salaries they ‘should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU’RE FIRED. Find something else to do!’
Kaepernick stirred a polarizing national debate in 2016 after refusing to stand during pre-game renditions of the Star Spangled Banner to protest police violence against African-Americans.
Several players have made similar gestures of protest before games since Kaepernick initiated his protest.
As commissioner, Goodell reports to NFL owners, some of whom have supported Trump in the past.
Nancy Levine of Marin, Calif., holds a sign in support of Oakland Athletics’ Bruce Maxwell, who knelt during the national anthem for a second day prior to the baseball game against the Texas Rangers Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a major Trump presidential campaign donor, was confirmed by the Senate last month as Trump’s pick to serve as US ambassador to Britain.
The union representing professional football players also rejected Trump’s comments, saying it would defend their right to freedom of expression.
‘This union will never back down when it comes to protecting the constitutional rights of our players as citizens,’ tweeted DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Association, referring to the First Amendment’s guarantee of the right to free speech.
The White House could not be reached immediately to comment on the statements by Goodell or the union.
NBA players also struck back against comments by the president on Saturday.
In an early morning Twitter message on Saturday, the president rescinded a White House invitation to basketball star Stephen Curry, who had said he would ‘vote’ against the planned visit by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.