Oakland A's rookie catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first MLB player to kneel during the Star Spangled Banner prior to Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers.
Given how President Trump has called free agent NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick a son of a bitch and called upon sports owners to fire anyone who takes a knee prior to the national anthem and given how Trump rescinded his invitation to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors after Curry had the temerity to criticize him one wonders if Trump will now make Maxwell public enemy number one.
Maxwell is the son of an American soldier and was born on a U.S. military base in Germany. But given how Trump went after the Khans I don't think Maxwell is safe from Trump's wrath.
Honestly, I don't think kneeling during the national anthem is going to stop police brutality or end racial inequality even f Maxwell has his hand over his heart. I do think Maxwell is being disrespectful and disagree with his stance. But we still live in a free country and it isn't Trump's place to tell his employer to fire him. That is what heads of state and government do in authoritarian states.
In any case, the A's are supportive of Maxwell's expression so he is unlikely to face the sort of blackballing the NFL has given Kaepernick. If Trump does go after Maxwell, the A's and MLB will have no problem telling Trump to mind his business.
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