Yankees’ Stanton, Hicks plan to continue kneeling during anthem

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres (25) and DJ LeMahieu (26) stand as Aaron Hicks (31) and Giancarlo Stanton (27) kneel during the playing of the national anthem before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

New York Yankees outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks told reporters on Saturday night that they plan to continue kneeling during the national anthem throughout this season.

https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1287229234285608961?s=20

Stanton and Hicks knelt in the outfield grass at Nationals Park ahead of Saturday’s game in Washington. After the game, Stanton discussed why he’d continue to kneel.

“It is time,” Stanton said, as reported by ESPN’s Marly Rivera. “It is time to be a voice and to be there for people.

“I want to take the heat,” Stanton said in regard to kneeling, according to Rivera. “I would like for me to be handling these questions.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he support Stanton and Hicks’ right to protest, and that “it was well thought out and it was important for them to do that.”

A few Blue Jays players — Anthony Alford, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal — knelt during the anthem before Friday’s season opener. Alford said he is undecided over whether or not he’ll continue that practice throughout the year.

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