OAKLAND - A's catcher Bruce Maxwell took a knee in protest during Saturday night's national anthem at the Coliseum, believed to be the first major league baseball player to do so during the playing of the anthem.
Maxwell, stationed at the far left of his row of teammates and coaches in front of the A's dugout, knelt with his hat over his heart. Outfielder Mark Canha stood next to Maxwell with his hand on Maxwell's shoulder, a show of support that's also been demonstrated by NFL players when their teammates have knelt during the anthem.
Athletes around the country have been hitting social media heavily Saturday, taking President Trump to task for a series of inflammatory tweets in which the President withdrew an invitation for the Warriors to visit the White House while also criticizing NFL players who kneel in protest for the anthem. Then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first pro athlete to draw attention for kneeling during the anthem last season, doing so as a manner of protesting racial discrimination in the country.
Maxwell, who's been out of the lineup the past couple days as he undergoes concussion protocol, lashed out at Trump in a profanity-laced Instagram post Saturday afternoon. He also tweeted the following:
Don't be surprised if you start seeing athletes kneeling in other sports now!! Comments like that coming from our president. WOW! ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017
Sports
Yeah I bet he doesn't step to @Kaepernick7 in person and call him and the other protesters a "son of a bitch." Ignorance from our Pres— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017
Inequality is being displayed bigger than ever right now as our president shows that freeedom of protest and speech is not allowed..— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017
This now has gone from just a BlackLives Matter topic to just complete inequality of any man or woman that wants to stand for Their rights!— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017
Maxwell was born in Germany while his father, an Army officer, was stationed there. He grew up in Alabama.