Oakland Athletics Catcher Bruce Maxwell Kneels During Anthem

For the past year, NFL players have been kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality. On Saturday, Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first MLB player to join the protest.

It was seemingly a matter of time before it happened. NFL players had been protesting the national anthem for the past year, with Colin Kaepernick becoming the face of those protesters. As time went on, more and more players joined this protest to highlight racial inequality, with those protests crossing those racial lines. With more players kneeling during the anthem, it became a matter of time before other sports joined in.

When President Trump sent out his Twitter rantings about how those NFL players who protest the anthem should be fired and/or suspended, it set off a firestorm. Players from various sports condemned his words, with Orioles Executive VP John Angelos becoming the first front office member in baseball to speak out against the President. Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell took it further in his own Tweet, saying not to be surprised if athletes from other sports join the protest. He then lived up to that prediction, as he became the first MLB player to kneel during the anthem.

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The Athletics also released a statement supporting their young catcher and his protest. Mark Cahna stood next to him with a hand on his shoulder in a show of solidarity. Maxwell was also facing the flag, with his hat over his heart as he knelt during the anthem.

Any potential backlash against Maxwell will be interesting. He is the son of an Army officer, and was born on a military base in Germany. The common rejoinder about how these players would not protest if they knew someone in the military is obviously out the window in this case. Given his background, Maxwell may be the right player to start the protests, despite his relatively unknown status.

Professional sports, regardless of the league, is a fraternity. Players hold a mutual respect for one another, and will band together for a cause. After those statements about NFL players protesting, and his reaction to Stephen Curry saying he would not go to the White House, it was inevitable that other players would show solidarity. Maxwell may be the beginning.

Next: A's to host free game in 2018

Anthem protests have now come to Major League Baseball. Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first, but he likely will not be the last.