Blue Jays' Vlad Jr., Biggio, others kneel during Opening Day anthem
Several members of the Toronto Blue Jays took a knee during the U.S. national anthem before their Opening Day contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Four #BlueJays players, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and Anthony Alford kneeled during the national anthem. Alford and Espinal also kneeled during “O, Canada.”#Rays #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/EpQmvkPiE8
— Eduardo A. Encina 😷 (@EddieInTheYard) July 24, 2020
While every member of the team took a knee prior to the anthem, a handful of players kneeled while it was playing, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Anthony Alford, and Santiago Espinal, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. Alford and Espinal also kneeled for the Canadian anthem.
United. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/yXMJF1GMZb
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 24, 2020
Biggio said he made a last-second decision to kneel after speaking to Alford, his longtime friend who wanted to kneel but was having some second thoughts, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
"I just wanted to show support to not only a teammate but someone I consider a brother," Biggio said, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.
In the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody and the ensuing protests in favor of racial equality, Major League Baseball teams have opted to use a long black ribbon to show unity without linking arms and breaking social distancing guidelines. Players are also able to wear additional patches on their uniforms with the words "United for Change" or "Black Lives Matter."