Bruce Maxwell, on a Monday night walk in San Diego, looked at the Twitter notification displayed by his agent, took a double take, and smiled a slow, expansive smile.
So, she tried not to cry.
“Honestly, there was a lot of joy in my heart, there was a lot of relief,” Maxwell told USA TODAY Sports, “and there was a lot of excitement.
“Just seeing the spread of consciousness, that people are seeing the injustice of humanity in our country, and for the people who are now facing it, it was very joyful for me.”
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler, and various Giants players and staff, became the first members of a major league team to kneel during the national anthem since Maxwell in September 2017.
“If he were there, I would give Kapler a big hug, shake his hand, and tell him that I am honored to be by his side,” said Maxwell. “That was a big step. For someone in that position, putting their title aside, becoming vulnerable in that situation, and standing up for what is right is great for humanity.
“It has nothing to do with the flag, not the military, it is a message that defends the correct cause.”
Kapler is not only the first MLB coach to kneel during the national anthem, but he is also believed to be the first head coach in any of North America’s top four sports leagues to protest racial injustice in this way. .
Kapler, in his first year as manager of the Giants, had been outspoken about racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter since George Floyd was killed in May. He had spoken to his players and staff members for the past three days, including contacting other organizations, and on Monday he informed his players that he intended to kneel before the game. He said he would support their decision to kneel or defend the hymn.
“I wanted them to know that I was not happy with the way our country has handled police brutality,” Kapler said during his post-game press conference. “I told them that I wanted to amplify their voices and I wanted to amplify the voice of the black community and the marginalized communities as well.
“And I told them that I wanted to use my platform to demonstrate my dissatisfaction with the way we handle racism in our country. I wanted to demonstrate my dissatisfaction with our clear systemic racism in our country.
“I wanted them to know that they have to make their own decisions. And we would respect and support those decisions. I wanted them to feel safe talking. We have had these discussions in the last few days and will continue to have them. “
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Kapler did not reveal whether he would continue to kneel, or whether there will be additional kneeling players in the future. The kneeling Giants, on the same field as Maxwell three years ago, were outfielders Jaylin Davis, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater, and first base coach Antoan Richardson.
“Our coaching staff and our organization told them that we would support any statement they wanted to make,” said Kapler. “If they kneel before the hymn, we would support it. If they defended it, we would also support it.” And we would not judge them for making any statement or defending what they believe or express themselves. “
There were no Giants players available after the game due to time constraints of having to leave the Colosseum an hour after the game, but Giants starter Kevin Gausman confirmed Kapler’s message in an interview during the game.
“He said it is everyone’s choice,” said Gausman. “The most important thing is wherever you are, whether you decide to stop or kneel for whatever reason, that he will back us up. I think that is important at the moment. “
The Giants will not be the only team protesting racial injustices in this country. There will be other teams kneeling and showing their beliefs with the season beginning Thursday.
Angels pitcher Keynan Middleton knelt and raised his fist during the anthem performance before the Los Angeles exhibition game Monday against San Diego.
The Padres, led by rookie Taylor Trammell, are expected to represent the national anthem but with their hands behind their backs. Cleveland has been standing with his arms on each other’s shoulders for the past two exhibition games.
“I really don’t know what to expect when the season starts,” said Maxwell. “I don’t expect anyone to kneel if they don’t believe in their heart, it’s the right thing to do. If two people do it, great, if 100 people do it even better.
“People have different feelings now.”
Maxwell has spent the last two years playing for the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League. His season was canceled earlier this month due to COVID-19.
“The reaction of the fans and the death threats to his family was too difficult to handle,” Lonnie Murray, Maxwell’s agent, said of Maxwell’s 2017 protest. “I was equipped for that.”
Maxwell said: “I had no one to help me. I was alone, dealing with threats every day. ”
Now the players are talking. White players, such as three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, have spoken openly about Black Lives Matter. MLB even tweeted a 13-second video clip of the Kneeling Giants with the hashtag: #BlackLivesMatter.
“I think it will be incredible for the cause,” said Maxwell. “It is the message. There is a growing unity in our sport that we are a community and fight for everyone.”
And in case anyone was wondering how the Giants’ management felt, Farhan Zaidi, president of baseball operations, sent out a statement after the game.
“We are proud of our players and staff for continuing to participate in the national conversation about racial injustice. We support those who knelt to peacefully protest racial injustice and those who stood up to express their love for the country. We do not see this as mutually exclusive feelings and we believe that the freedom to express both is what our country is about. As an organization, we reaffirm our denunciation of acts of discrimination and violence against members of the black community and our commitment to work together with those seeking to end racial injustice in the United States. ”
The Giants sent a message that reverberated throughout baseball.
“I think tonight was a good start,” said Kapler. “I am extremely proud of our players and staff for making both decisions. Everyone in our clubhouse, on the field, and in this ballpark thought a lot about their choice.
“And I am proud of that.”
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale
