New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge wants to make one thing clear before Thursday’s opening game against the Washington Nationals: Regardless of whether some players decide to kneel during the national anthem, the team will be a unified front.
Judge said Tuesday after team training in New York that she supports anyone’s decision to protest during the national anthem.
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“That is the beauty of the United States, it is freedom of expression,” Judge said, according to the New York Post. “The freedom to express yourself. We have a special platform to be athletes. And to be able to say what we think and speak [to] What is going on in this world? And some people express it online. Some people express it in words. Some people kneel, do what they have to do. “
He continued: “I think that whatever message we try to convey here, we want to express unity and that we are all in this together. I think that is the most important message that we are going to try to transmit from here. We are all in this together. Try to have those awkward conversations that we need to have. Bring those awkward topics of conversation. But whatever happens, we are in this together. ”
No Yankees player knelt during any of their three exhibition games, but Judge said it’s something they plan to talk about before the start of the season.
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“We haven’t discussed it as a team yet,” he said. “It is a bit difficult to meet in an area with all the rules and regulations, meeting 6 feet away, but we will definitely discuss it before Thursday.”
Manager Aaron Boone has said he plans to back up any player’s decision to kneel.
“This country allows you to express yourself in many different ways and that is one of the beauties of this country. So I respect how someone wants to demonstrate, whether in protest or in solidarity, whatever the reasons, I have no problem with that. I support that. And if that is our path as a club, I will support whoever has a strong feeling about it in one way or another. ”
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San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler and several of his players knelt during the national anthem before their exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics on Monday. In San Diego, Los Angeles Angels reliever Keynan Middleton knelt and raised his right fist.
Several Cincinnati Reds players did the same on Tuesday and also knelt during the national anthem.
