Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, already has “End Racism,” “Justice for George Floyd” and various social justice signs emblazoned on stadium walls, so it’s no surprise the team canceled Monday afternoon’s game after a police-involved shooting Sunday resulted in the death of a local man who refused arrest.
The Twins statement, which came at 1:30 p.m. as thousands of paying fans were already in their seats, read:
“Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Brooklyn Center, and following the additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interests of our fans, staff, players and community to not play today’s game.”
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, 39, is no stranger to making political statements on and off the field.
“All of us, all of us, especially us in Minnesota right now, are tired in a lot of ways of having these types of conversations,” Baldelli said Monday. “There’s a huge disappointment and sadness when you have to wake up to these things. I shouldn’t say there’s a disbelief, because I think we’ve seen these things happening around the country way too much, but it is very disappointing and very sad every time we see this.”
The Twins claim they made the decision after consultation with Major League Baseball, which has been exposed in recent days as a partisan political organization that jumps to conclusions without facts.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, already facing criticism for capricious, divisive comments Sunday night that may have fueled riots, spoke again Monday afternoon.
After saying there’s “no justification for violence” and tossing in a racial jab, President Joe Biden said, “We’ve got to wait and see what the investigation shows.”
The family of Daunte Wright has retained George Floyd family attorney Ben Crump — who is involved in almost every police shooting case — already.
By noon Monday, a few dozen “protesters” gathered outside the Brooklyn Center police headquarters, facing a similar number of state troopers and National Guard troops, dressed in full protective gear.
According to the Star Tribune “troopers stood silently as angry residents crossed the busy street to confront them. Some shouted and cursed, while others silently held signs demanding justice.”
This situation is peaceful compared to a Sunday night of riots, looting, animalistic behavior and scenes reminiscent of the appalling actions after last summer’s George Floyd death.
A.J. Kaufman
A.J. Kaufman is an Alpha News columnist. His work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Florida Sun-Sentinel, Indianapolis Star, Israel National News, Orange County Register, St. Cloud Times, Star-Tribune, and across AIM Media Midwest and the Internet. Kaufman previously worked as a school teacher and military historian.
