MLB Embraces Black Lives Matter Message, With Tampa Bay Rays Saying Opening Day Is ‘Great Day To Arrest The Killers Of Breonna Taylor’
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
It’s a new era in professional sports and racial justice issues.
The MLB Tampa Bay Rays’ tweet Friday morning speaks for itself: “Today is Opening Day, which means it’s a great day to arrest the killers of Breonna Taylor.”
Jemele Hill offered two words that sum up the Rays’ Tweet:
Taylor, a 26-year-old Black EMT, was fatally shot by Louisville police March 25 during a no-knock drug raid while she slept in her Louisville home.
To offer some Rays’ Twitter context, the MLB team also put this out there:
LVSportsBiz.com reached out to the Rays’ former vice president of marketing and entertainment, Darcy Raymond, for his thoughts on the Rays’ Tweets.
Majority owner “Stu Sternberg and the front office have always stood up for diversity and equality. Stu was head of Diversity for MLB. (Rays President) Matt Silverman led efforts to help homeless youth, and Brian Auld spearheaded Big Brothers Big Sisters (all on their personal time).. they have also helped advance women, minorities, and LGBTQ (and so many more). They truly walk the walk,” Raymond said.
“They hire talented people from all backgrounds, support non-profit organizations financially, and with Rays assets. They are truly the real deal when it comes to supporting these causes. They care deeply about helping those in need. Makes me extremely proud and grateful to have been part of the Rays for 10 seasons. Bravo Rays!,” he said.
Around the country in ballparks without fans, players donned T-shirts with the “Black Lives Matter” message during batting practice. The pitcher’s mounds in MLB baseball yards also displayed “BLM.”
Yankees and Nationals players took a kneel before the National Anthem before their game Thursday.
The Rays’ Tweet prompted thousands of fans to chime in. Some embraced the Tweet.
Others opposed it.
And the Rays’ Tweet drew all types of coverage, too.
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