Yankees receive backlash over insensitive timing of 'Blue Lives Matter' event

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Sunday, on the one year anniversary of Mike Brown’s death, New York baseball fans took part in a “Blue Lives Matter” event at a Staten Island Yankees-Brooklyn Cyclones game —  less than a mile away from where Eric Garner was choked to death by a NYC police officer.

Blue Lives Matter was launched last year to “help law enforcement officers and their families during their time of need.”

The timing of this event, along with the blatant co-opting of the Black Lives Matter movement ,has inspired criticism not just from the black community but also from those in attendance.

Staten Island Yankees senior director of marketing Michael Holley apologized for the insensitivity the team displayed by hosting Blue Lives Matter and added that “our goal is to support those in need, and NOT to provide ammunition for the political and social battles that we are all facing.”

SI Yankees president Jane Rogers later told The Huffington Post, “There was never any intent to cause controversy or ill-will feelings toward anyone in the community or outside the community. It’s how we treat any group that comes to the ballpark for fundraising efforts. We do this constantly with many, many groups. It was never a matter of favoring one group over another.

We wanted to raise money for the families. [Blue Lives Matter] weren’t handing out any propaganda. There were no political motives.”

In regards to the event taking place on the anniversary of Mike Brown’s death, “It was a very unfortunate coincidence.” Holley explained, “[Blue Lives Matter] wanted the matchup against Brooklyn, because the attendance is usually better. This just happened to be the only Sunday [the SI Yankees host the Cyclones] in August.”