Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell (13) kneels during the National Anthem as Oakland Athletics left fielder Mark Canha (20) places his hand on Maxwell's shoulder before the Seattle Mariners face the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, September 25, 2017.
Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell has thus far been the only Major League Baseball player to kneel during the national anthem, in protest of police brutality.
It has been exactly one month since the 26-year-old first kneeled, and he has received no shortage of backlash.
According to an interview with TMZ, Maxwell said he was denied service from a pro-Trump waiter while out to lunch in his home state of Alabama. Accompanied by Huntsville, Alabama city councilman Devyn Keith, who is also African-American, the waiter recognized Maxwell and refused to serve them:
“He was like, ‘Oh you’re that guy huh? You’re the guy that took the knee. I voted for Trump. … And I stand for everything he stands for.”
After the incident unfolded, the councilman went to speak with a manager and the two were assigned a new waiter. Maxwell said the incident occurred within hours of being back home:
“That’s where I’m from man. … I’m very respectful, I’m very educated, and it still happens to this day. That’s the reason I’m kneeling.”
Many people are outraged by the anthem protests because it shows a lack of respect for both veterans and service members, but for Maxwell this not true. His father, Bruce Maxwell Jr., served in the U.S. Army for six years, and said he is supports his son’s decision to kneel.
Maxwell also told TMZ that he has developed he has developed a relationship with Colin Kaepernick since joining the protest, and that his guidance has helped him.
Last modified October 26, 2017 12:32 am
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