Gabe Kapler: ‘I do not plan on popping out for the anthem going ahead till I feel higher about the route of our nation’

Speaking within the dugout of the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kapler stated, "I do not plan on coming out for the anthem going ahead till I feel better about the course of our nation."

"We weren't given bravery, and we aren't free. The police on the scene put a mother in handcuffs as she begged them to go in and save her youngsters. They blocked dad and mom trying to prepare to charge in to stop the shooter, together with a father who realized his daughter was murdered whereas he argued with the cops. We aren't free when politicians determine that the lobbyist and gun industries are extra vital than our kids's freedom to go to high school without having bulletproof backpacks and energetic shooter drills," Kapler wrote.

Later, Kapler wrote about his disillusionment with what he called "the shortage of delivery of the promise of what our nationwide anthem represents."

"I am not okay with the state of this nation. I wish I hadn't let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I want that I may have demonstrated what I discovered from my dad, that whenever you're dissatisfied along with your country, you let it be recognized via protest. The home of the courageous ought to encourage this."

Kerr refused to discuss basketball ahead of Recreation 4 of the Warriors' series towards the Dallas Mavericks, instead raising his voice as he railed against gun violence in the wake of Tuesday's shooting.

"Within the last 10 days, we have had aged Black individuals killed in a grocery store in Buffalo, we've had Asian churchgoers killed in Southern California, now now we have youngsters murdered at school," Kerr told reporters at the start of the press convention.

"When are we going to do one thing? I am drained. I'm so uninterested in getting up right here and providing condolences to the devastated families that are out there ... I'm uninterested in the moments of silence. Sufficient."