Kapler puts protest on hold for Memorial Day tilt

San Francisco Giants Gabe Kapler stood before the national anthem was played in his team’s game against Philadelphia Phillies Memorial Day.

Kapler began his protest against the direction the nation on Friday by standing by himself at the Giants’ dugout railing during taps. This was followed by a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by a military bugle band.

A few San Francisco players stood on a chalk line that ran past the third-base bag while they did stretching exercises.

“Today I’ll stand for the anthem,” Kapler stated Monday via his blog .. “While I strongly believe in the right to protest and how important it is, I also strongly believe in honoring and grieving the service men and women who have fought and died for this right. All those who served in the military, especially those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms, should be acknowledged and respected. I am honored to take the line today to show my respect. “

Kapler had been protesting the use of the field for the national anthem after the shooting at Uvalde High School in Texas last week. But he indicated Sunday that he was considering suspending the protest because Monday is Memorial Day.

” I’m very comfortable taking things day by day,” Kapler stated Sunday about his protest. “I think that I’ll just choose what makes sense at the moment. “

“Memorial Day is an important day in our country’s history and a special day and a unique day,” he said. It is a topic that merits special attention. “

Friday’s mass shooting in Texas that left 19 teachers and children dead on Tuesday was discussed by Kapler via his personal blog. The attack took place 10 days following the murder of 10 Black men at a Buffalo, New York supermarket.

” “Every time I place my arm over my heart and take off my hat, it’s a self-congratulatory glorification for the only country where these mass shootings occur,” Kapler wrote on his blog.

Kapler stated that he wasn’t ready to announce whether the protest would resume on Tuesday night.

” “The days go by so fast,” he said. “We’re going out to talk about Giants & Phillies today, then we’ll get into it and then we’ll spend some more time trying to escape from the game. The game will begin the next day. I want my thoughts to be perfectly formed. They will be mine and I will share them. They are not my current needs. After the 2019season, Kapler was replaced by ”

Joe Girardi as Philadelphia’s manager.

“Everyone has a choice in this country, right?” Girardi said. “I mean that’s the foundation of America. It’s not the decision that I will make. There are consequences for all choices made in life. You have to be able to explain why you make these choices. It’s not something I would do. ”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.