Oakland A's catcher Bruce Maxwell kneels during national anthem before game against Texas Rangers
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- A's rookie catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first MLB player to take a knee during the national anthem Saturday.
FULL VIDEO: Bruce Maxwell fields questions after kneeling during national anthem
Before this Maxwell made it known that President Trump's rhetoric on Twitter had taken the movement to another level.
Maxwell tweeted Saturday morning, "Don't be surprised if you start seeing athletes kneeling in other sports now!! Comments like that coming from our president. WOW!"
And, he tweeted again saying, "Inequality is being displayed bigger than ever right now as our president shows that freedom of protest and speech is not allowed.."
Maxwell answered questions after the game.
"I feel like this was the right thing for me to do personally, from the endeavors I've been through and the people I do know that have been victims of racial indifferences. He wants to take knee, let them his take a knee. What you gonna ban him from baseball now like Kaepernick? I think the athletes are doing it because they feel they have a platform to make some change. But the people that are striking back they are seeing what the fabric of America is like."
The A's issued a statement saying, "the Oakland A's pride ourselves on being inclusive. We respect and support all of our player's constitutional rights and freedom of expression."
Maxwell said this decision was one of the hardest things he had to do. He informed the team about it ahead of the game. And, it's something he plans to continue to do.
