Joey Votto, other Reds players kneel during national anthem
Ahead of Tuesday's exhibition game between the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark, multiple members of the Reds kneeled to protest police violence and racial injustices.
As noted by ESPN , Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, reliever Amir Garrett, infielder Alex Blandino and outfielder Phillip Ervin all fell to a knee during the "Star-Spangled Banner." The Reds added the hashtag "#BlackLivesMatter" in a tweet showing the demonstration:
The previous evening, multiple members of the San Francisco Giants, including manager Gabe Kapler, kneeled during the anthem.
The "Black Lives Matter" movement gained momentum in the United States and around the world following the killing of George Floyd on May 25. Footballers throughout European leagues and Major League Soccer have dropped to one knee ahead of kickoffs in unity and support of the campaign.
The NBA has painted the "Black Lives Matter" slogan on courts at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex bubble site for the resumption of the 2019-20 campaign.
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