In a show of support of Black Lives Matter, a high school baseball team in Iowa opened its season on Monday by taking a knee during the national anthem.
According to local NBC affiliate WHO, the Roosevelt Roughriders, in their home white uniforms, stepped out of their third-base dugout and dropped to a knee and linked arms as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played at Principal Park in Des Moines, home of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
“We’re just trying to show our appreciation, and it’s about social justice,” Roosevelt senior outfielder Jayden Singleton told the news outlet.
“It shows how we are together as a team and have a strong core.”
Senior infielder Alex Pendergast told the station that the kneeling is “no disrespect to the flag. It’s simply to bring attention to the issues at hand, and I think we did the right thing.”
“If we had some standing and some kneeling, it’s not as big of a deal. But to show that our whole team came together and kneeled, I think it makes a very big impact.”
The players in Des Monies had the backing of school administrators.
Watch:
LOOK: Baseball returns to Iowa — and Des Moines Roosevelt High School players kneel during the National Anthem.
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) June 16, 2020
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