They took a knee before an exhibition game that also featured the first female coach in MLB history, Alyssa Nakken at first base for the Giants.
Oakland, California — San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler plans to use his position to speak out against racial injustice and provide a voice for those who aren’t heard. Kapler and several of his players knelt during the national anthem before their 6-2 exhibition victory against the Oakland Athletics.
The game also featured the first female coach in MLB history, Alyssa Nakken, at first base for the Giants.
Kapler shared his plans when he addressed the team earlier Monday and said everyone would be supported by the Giants no matter what they decided to do.
«I wanted them to know that I wasn’t pleased with the way our country has handled police brutality and I told them I wanted to amplify their voices and I wanted to amplify the voice of the Black community and marginalized communities as well,» Kapler said. «So I told them that I wanted to use my platform to demonstrate my dissatisfaction with the way we’ve handled racism in our country. I wanted to demonstrate my dissatisfaction with our clear systemic racism in our country and I wanted them to know that they got to make their own decisions and we would respect and support those decisions. I wanted them to feel safe in speaking up.»
Right fielder Jaylin Davis, who is African American, and first base coach Antoan Richardson also took a knee as shortstop Brandon Crawford stood between them with a hand on each of their shoulders.
