A banner reading “Racism Is As American As Baseball” was briefly unfurled over the Green Monster between the top and bottom of the fourth inning of the A’s-Red Sox game at Fenway Park tonight.
Per several reporters at the stadium, the banner was only up for a few minutes before being confiscated by security. The people responsible for the banner—from photographs, there appear to be three of them—were moved from the stadium.
Update (9:55 p.m. ET): Some more information from beat reporters as the Red Sox pull out of a rain delay.
Update (10:27 p.m. ET): The Red Sox have released a statement on the situation.
“During the 4th inning of tonight’s game, four fans unfurled a banner over the left field wall in violation of the club’s policy prohibiting signs of any kind to be hung or affixed to the ballpark. The individuals involved were escorted out of Fenway Park.”
Update (10:50 p.m. ET): Evan Drellich of CSN New England has an interview with one of the demonstrators behind the banner. There were five people involved—three who held the banner, and two documenting the situation. (One was nearby and the other was further away inside the stadium; the latter was not removed from the park with the others.)
“We want to remind everyone that just as baseball is fundamental to American culture and history, so too is racism,” the group said in a written statement. “White people need to wake up to this reality before white supremacy can truly be dismantled. We urge anyone who is interested in learning more or taking action to contact their local racial justice organization.”