Dodgers star Mookie Betts makes 1,000th career hit amid social justice movement in sports
GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses during Photo Day on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - Dodgers star Mookie Betts wasn't planning on playing in Thursday's doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants, in a form of protest against police brutality following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. He wasn't listed on the roster.
But Betts told Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Thursday morning that he had changed his mind.
“In talking to Mookie last night, he didn’t plan on playing today. Regardless of the doubleheaders, he wasn’t gonna play. He felt that he wanted to continue to stand firm on his position, which I absolutely respect and support," Roberts told reporters Thursday. "Talking to him this morning, talking to The Players Alliance and Black players around the league, they just came to a consensus that they could use their platform more by playing today."
Blake was shot multiple times by police in Kenosha, about 40 miles south of Milwaukee. The Blake family’s attorney said Blake was paralyzed and that it would “take a miracle” for him to walk again.
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The shooting of the 29-year-old Blake was captured on cellphone video Sunday and ignited protests in Kenosha and elsewhere, including Los Angeles.
A federal civil rights investigation into the shooting was opened Wednesday night, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
RELATED: DOJ opens federal civil rights investigation into shooting of Jacob Blake
Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who is Black, told his teammates he was sitting out of Wednesday night's game and they backed him.
“For me, I think no matter what, I wasn’t going to play tonight,” Betts said.
RELATED: Dodgers, Giants game postponed in wake of police shooting of Jacob Blake
“I have to use my platform to at least get the ball rolling,” he said.
Once Betts made his decision, the Dodgers stood by him, ace Clayton Kershaw said.
“More than anything as a teammate of Mookie’s, as a member of this team ... as a white player on this team is how do we show support? What’s something tangible that we can do to help our black brothers on this team?” Kershaw said.
Betts' decision to play Thursday made a huge impact on the Dodgers' 7-0 win. Betts singled in the sixth inning for his 1,000th career hit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.