New on Sports Illustrated: Gabe Kapler, Giants Players Kneel During National Anthem

Right fielder Jaylin Davis and first base coach Antoan Richardson also took a knee alongside San Francisco's manager on Monday.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler and several of his players knelt during the national anthem before Monday night's exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics.

Right fielder Jaylin Davis, who is African American, and first base coach Antoan Richardson also took a knee as shortstop Brandon Crawford stood between them with a hand on each of their shoulders. Davis held his right hand over his heart, while Richardson, who is Black and from the Bahamas, clasped his hands in front of him.

It was on the same field where former A's catcher Bruce Maxwell in 2017 became the first major leaguer to kneel for the anthem.

Kapler, beginning his first season managing the Giants after two disappointing years guiding the Phillies, didn't discuss his plans to kneel in a pregame session with media members.

Kapler has been outspoken about social injustice and racial issues and athletes' roles in helping spur positive change.

"They felt strong about the issue so they knelt," A's pitcher

Mike Fiers said.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial inequality and police mistreatment of minorities. He was roundly criticized for years, but public sentiment has changed since George Floyd's death in May.

Floyd, a Black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck while Floyd was handcuffed and saying that he couldn't breathe.