18 Professional Softball Players Quit and Form New Team After Being ‘Misrepresented’ by Manager’s National Anthem Tweet

All 18 players of the professional softball team Scrap Yard Fast Pitch (Scrap Yard FP) quit Monday night after the team’s general manager tweeted at President Donald Trump, showcasing that the players stood during the national anthem. The players have now formed a new team.

On Monday, Texas-based Scrap Yard FP faced off against The USSSA Pride in Melbourne, Fla., in what was supposed to be the first of a seven-game series. During the game, the Scrap Yard FP Twitter account posted a now-deleted photo of the players standing for the national anthem along with the text: “Hey @realDonaldTrump Pro Fastpitch being played live … Everyone standing for the FLAG!” The tweet was written by the team’s general manager Connie May, according to social media posts from the players.

The New York Times reports that the players were surprised to hear about the post after returning to their locker room after the game. Many of the players (more than half of whom are supposed to play in the delayed 2021 Tokyo Olympics per ESPN) began posting on social media that they were not consulted about the tweet, that it did not represent their beliefs and stressed that they support the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I am so hurt, Never in my entire playing career or even life have I ever been so hurt,” tweeted Kiki Stokes, a Black player on the team. “[To] come into that locker room after a game and have no idea that the organization I stayed loyal to for the last 5 years and put my honest to God heart and soul into wasn’t looking for me but more importantly my community hurts.”

On Friday, the former Scrap Yard FP players announced that they had reformed into a new independent team called This Is Us Softball, which they say will exist for the remainder of the season. This Is Us Softball includes all 18 former players from Scrap Yard FP, ESPN reports.

See Campaign: https://time.com/5860756/softball-trump-quit-kneel-national-anthem/
Contact Information:
MADELEINE CARLISLE

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Contact Information:

MADELEINE CARLISLE

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