Cubs, Brewers share moment of unity

Opening Day game preceded by displays of solidarity against racial injustice

July 25th, 2020

CHICAGO -- A large American flag hung from the rooftop of the building across Waveland Ave. behind Wrigley Field's left-field wall, obscuring most of the facade on Friday night. Standing in the bleachers atop the roof was teen gospel singer Keedron Bryant, his voice carrying into the ballpark and throughout the neighborhood.

Bryant belted out the words to his original song, "I Want to Live," which has been shared and spread throughout social media since May, when Black Lives Matter protests gained momentum around the United States. His performance followed a moment of silence and solidarity ahead of Friday's Opening Day game between the Cubs and Brewers.

Both teams wore Black Lives Matter shirts during warm-ups. Players from both sides then joined in holding a black unity cloth, which stretched from left field to right, along the chalk lines.

"People want to throw out the label of a 'movement.' I'm not giving it a title," Cubs outfielder said prior to Friday's game. "I just call it, let's do the right thing. And I think that's what I can get behind always in my heart."

Heyward said that he did not believe that kneeling during the national anthem was necessary for him as part of the Cubs' unified display. That said, he expressed respect for the players around baseball and sports who do take that personal step.

"I don't see today as a situation where I feel like I need to kneel," Heyward said. "And I say that because this is what progress looks like. You have acknowledgement. You have unity. You have people, multiple races, people from different cultures and areas, different struggles, standing together and, for one, acknowledging the Black struggle in this country.”

On Friday afternoon, the Cubs posted this social media message that was put together by the players as a group:

Brewers manager Craig Counsell echoed that sentiment.

"[Change] has to start somewhere, and today is the jumping-off place for us," Counsell told reporters. "I'm proud of the guys. I'm happy to be a part of it, and I'm hoping we can be, as much as anything, a part of a conversation. I think we're hopefully helping to start [to] do that."

Said Cubs first baseman : "I feel that we support the movement 100 percent in that clubhouse, our staff. I can't sit here and say I know what it's like, because I don't. None of us do, except a few of our guys on our team that know what it's like to be a Black person in this country.”

Heyward also had a message for anyone who wants teams or players to "stick to sports" rather than be vocal on such social issues.

"I would say I wish I could stick to sports," Heyward said. "But I have family. I'm going to have children one day, God willing. I am a child. I'm an older brother. I have grandparents. I've got cousins -- Marines, military, law enforcement. I'm standing up for them. I can speak up a little bit more and my voice will reach more people than theirs might."

"When it comes to 'stick to sports,'" he added later, "I wish I could, but there's so many times that I don't have my uniform on that I'm treated like a Black man and not a baseball player."