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MLB game halted after ‘Racism is as American as Baseball’ banner hung from stadium

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MLB game halted after ‘Racism is as American as Baseball’ banner hung from stadium
A Boston Red Sox game was stopped as a banner reading "Racism is as American as Baseball" was hung over the outfield wall – Sep 14, 2017

A few fans seated above Fenway Park’s Green Monster dropped down a sign denouncing racism during the fourth inning of Boston’s 7-3 loss to Oakland on Wednesday night.

The sign — draped over the top middle of the 12-metre Monster — had a black background with white letters that read: “Racism is as American as Baseball.”

It was up for about one batter and the umpires asked it be removed because it was in fair territory. There was a spattering of boos from the crowd as Red Sox security forced them to remove it and escorted the people from their seats. A Red Sox spokesman said four people were escorted from the park and that one of them said they were inspired by Black Lives Matter.

READ MORE: United Nations warns U.S. to reject racism, hate speech after Charlottesville

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“Yeah, I saw it,” Boston right fielder Mookie Betts said. “There’s no place for that. That’s for another day, though.”

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It’s not the first time that the Red Sox have responded to the topic of racism at the ballpark.

“Saw it was draped over the Monster,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “From the dugout, you see someone expressing their opinion and it looked like it was withdrawn relatively quick.”

Earlier this season, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones said after a game on May 1 that he was the victim of racial slurs and had peanuts thrown at him during the game.

The next day, Jones received a personal apology from Boston team president Sam Kennedy on behalf of the club. When he stepped up for his first at-bat of the game, he was also given extended applause from the Fenway crowd.

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale stepped off the mound to allow the applause to continue.

READ MORE: Boston Red Sox ban fan for life for using racial slur against Kenyan woman

“Just appreciative that action was taken and not everybody feels the same way as selected people,” Jones said. “Sale, who works extremely fast, took his time and let it relish a little bit, so I appreciate the sentiments,” Jones said after Boston won 5-2.

In August, owner John Henry said his team will lead the effort to change the name of Yawkey Way. The street is currently named after Tom Yawkey, who owned the team from 1933 to 1976 but refused to integrate the team from 1947 to 1959.

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