WASHINGTON — Members of the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals baseball teams decided to pay tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement by kneeling before the national anthem during Thursday's season opener at Nationals Park.
According to The Associated Press, Yankees players proposed the demonstration, during which players knelt with a ribbon for 60 seconds but stood during the anthem, and the Nationals decided to join in solidarity.
"It was important for us, and for the Yankees, that everybody bought in and we had full participation and presented a united front during that moment," Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle said, according to the AP. "Holding the ribbon, kneeling, to show support for the other athletes who have done it in other sports ... to show support for the movement of Black Lives Matter and ending police brutality and racism and injustice."
Additionally, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert who has become a household name during the coronavirus pandemic, threw the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
"Dr. Fauci has been a true champion for our country during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout his distinguished career, so it is only fitting that we honor him as we kick off the 2020 season and defend our World Series Championship title," the Nationals said in a statement earlier this week.
Fauci, a fan of the team, has worn a cloth face mask with the Nationals’ logo, according to the AP.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.