Verlander criticized for ill-advised All Lives Matter tweet
Justin Verlander came under fire Sunday after including an #alllivesmatter hashtag in a tweet in which the Tigers pitcher questioned fellow athletes who protest by not standing during the national anthem.
Just sang the Canadian national anthem on TBS and we here in America can't stand together for our anthem. #alllivesmatter #TogetherStronger
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) October 10, 2016
The tweet came moments after Toronto's dramatic 7-6 walk-off win over the Rangers on TBS, when Casey Stern, Gary Sheffield, Jimmy Rollins, and Pedro Martinez were shown on camera singing O Canada.
"There are people DYING protecting our freedom as well. My point: let's all stand TOGETHER to create change. #standtogether," Verlander tweeted to a user.
Verlander's reference to All Lives Matter was not taken well by Twitter. Here's a sampling:
After you read the Verlander tweet pic.twitter.com/eMOnGwfVGf
— Jake Nazar (@ATVS_JakeNazar) October 10, 2016
@JustinVerlander pic.twitter.com/EM9R1mqsiP
— yrocAfella (@yrocAfella) October 10, 2016
@JustinVerlander pic.twitter.com/swz3mLYlOE
— Lester Anderson (@WordsfromLes) October 10, 2016
@JustinVerlander pic.twitter.com/9OJmrTg3ow
— George Gines (@GEORGEGiNES312) October 10, 2016