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MLBPA shows support for player protests

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Major League Baseball Players Association issued a statement Monday regarding the issue of player protests, which came to the forefront over the weekend when catcher Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics took a knee during the national anthem on two consecutive days.

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark showed support for players and their right to express themselves:

We will always respect and support all of our players' constitutional rights and freedom of expression. Unless or until there is a commitment to have a discussion about the issues why wouldn't those who are impassioned, have a platform and have a voice, offer their concerns? The hope inherent in the non-violent protests we are seeing is of a collective coming together to address the divisive and culturally destructive challenges that exist ... and that we are now seeing on display at the highest levels.

Maxwell was the first major-league player to kneel during the anthem on Saturday, following in the footsteps of free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who protested in a similar fashion when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Athletics backstop has received support from his teammates and the team's front office, as well as from other players around MLB, but has also received a variety of threats - mostly racial slurs - since taking a knee.

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