Apparently, we’re just not going to be allowed to simply enjoy sports anymore.
An enormous banner that read, ‘Racism is as American as Baseball,” was hung over the Green Monster at Fenway Park Wednesday night, during a game between the A’s and Red Sox:
The banner display didn’t last long, however, according to MassLive’s Jen McCaffrey, who reported that it lasted for “abaout a minute.” Before banner and banner bearers were removed by an apparent combination of stadium security and Boston Police.
The Red Sox released a statement about the incident, soon after removal of the banner: “During the 4th inning of tonight’s game, four fans unfurled a banner over the left field wall in violation of the club’s policy prohibiting signs of any kind to be hung or affixed to the ballpark. The individuals involved were escorted out of Fenway Park.”
According to McCaffrey, one of the “fans,” told Red Sox security that they were inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. That information, draws into question whether the people who unfurled the banner were truly fans, or simply activists. Another question that immediately jumps to mind, is how the “fans” were able to smuggle a banner of that size into he stadium without being noticed by security? Or, if it wasn’t smuggled in, why didn’t security endeavor to find out what the enormous banner said before allowing it into the stadium?
As McCaffrey notes, “Fenway has had a handful of racially charged incidents this season, dating back to April when Baltimore Orioles’ player Adam Jones said he heard racist slurs from fans in the crowd directed at him.
“The Red Sox recently announced they’d be in favor of renaming Yawkey Way, the street outside the park, because of the racist history of former team owner Tom Yawkey, for which the street is named.”