San Francisco Giants pitcher, Sam Coonrod, explained that he didn’t kneel during a pregame moment of unity because of his Christian beliefs.
The game was July 23 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. Every member of the Dodgers and every member of the Giants, took part in the moment, except Coonrod.
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The pitcher told reporters that he “meant no ill will” by standing.
“I don’t think I’m better than anybody. I’m just a Christian. I believe I can’t kneel before anything but God, Jesus Christ. I chose not to kneel. I feel if I did kneel I’d be a hypocrite. I don’t want to be a hypocrite.”
The moment of silence took place before the national anthem was played. Several MLB teams have participated in specific this demonstration, kneeling during the anthem, to show support to the Black Lives Matter movement.
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
“I’m a Christian,” Coonrod said. “I can’t get on board on a couple of things I’ve read about Black Lives Matter, how they lean toward Marxism and said some negative things about the nuclear family.”
Giants manager, Gabe Kapler, wrote on Twitter that he is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. He was the first manager to take a knee before a game during an exhibition match in Oakland last week.
“Kneeling is and has always been a gesture of respect and one of mourning, I respect our flag, our principles, and our country, but I am also embarrassed, sad, and angry that we do not provide for and protect everyone equally,” Kapler wrote.
“Actually, we who engaged in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen, and dealt with.”
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Coonrod told The Mercury News that Kapler still supported his decision not to participate in the demonstration.
“He’s not going to get mad if I disagree with him,” Coonrod said. “I think that that’s part of the problem nowadays: People get mad whenever someone disagrees. I’m not mad at someone who decided to kneel. I just don’t think it’s too much to ask that I just get the same respect.”
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