On Wednesday, during a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox, four individuals were escorted from Fenway Park for hanging a large banner that read "Racism is as American as baseball." At the top of the fourth inning, the fans dropped the black and white banner from the top of the Green Monster giving it prime visibility.

Sports analyst, Evan Drellich posted the display on Twitter with a caption that read, "Security quickly confiscated the banner and removed those holding it."

Security quickly confiscated the banner and removed those holding it. pic.twitter.com/b8xjLBW8O5

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) September 14, 2017

Although Fenway Park officials moved with a swiftness, the statement had already been made.

They just confiscated a "Racism is as American as Baseball" at Fenway as fast as only a Boston sports organization could.

— Kodak Zack (@zillacortez) September 14, 2017

As the photo went viral, #RacismIsAsAmerican began trending and the fam had questions.

I don't know who put up the "Racism Is As American" banner…but I do simply ask, "Where is the lie?". And how appropriate it's in Boston.

— Kierstyn Fisher (@Kierstyn_Epic) September 14, 2017

I mean…

"Racism is as American as Baseball" is a true statement

Racism has been with us through our history

An unchanging tradition that must end pic.twitter.com/aJUQxkvfOt

— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) September 14, 2017

You know it wasn't long before Twitter gave the hashtag new meaning.

Racism is as American as a trust-fund pumpkin who demands the first black President show his birth certificate, but won't show HIS taxes.

— Michelle (@Eaglefly124) September 14, 2017

And they went in!

"Racism is as American" pretending Jefferson Davis and the rest of the Confederates were not traitors defending slavery pic.twitter.com/hQlg7eOE8I

— Zeeppo (@Zeeppo) September 14, 2017

A little empathy training for the willfully ignorant.

"Racism is as American as baseball" has people fired up…????take a step back and consider why some people feel this way to gain #understanding
pic.twitter.com/xtI3e2Io2Z

— Sham Hassan (@Vfr670) September 14, 2017

Following the event, the Red Sox released a statement on the banner, stating:

"During the fourth 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."

This isn't Fenway's first racially charged incident of the season. There have been a number of reported incidents surrounding the Red Sox this year, including a report made by Baltimore Orioles' player Adam Jones back in April when the player said the crowd directed racist slurs at him. The Red Sox recently stated that they are considering renaming the street outside of the park because of the racist history of former team owner for which the street is named.

real racism

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