A fight at a baseball game and why it matters. The Nationals vs Red Sox benches clearing brawl

Vegans will often hear that we only care about animals, or we actively want people to be hurt because we only care about animals but many of us, myself Included, believe our veganism actually Includes people.

Today, I am going to talk a bit about an event from a baseball game Tuesday night. It was a Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox game In Boston, which meant as a Mets fan, I wasn't watching. However, I have seen this moment everywhere and maybe you have too.

After a strikeout, the white pitcher, Cade Cavalli, yelled a racist statement to the Venezuelan batter, Willson Contreras. Contreras, obviously affected by what Cavalli said proceeded to charge the mound. The benches cleared and a typical baseball fight with lots of jumping and thrown punches commenced.

You can watch the Interaction here.

This was handled so badly, If you listen to the two calling the game you'll hear It right In their conversation. One analyst says "Cavalli, who started the whole thing stays In. Shouldn't he be thrown out for saying that? You can't say that." and the other responds "no, he's not going to get thrown out for that, It's not like he said an expletive."

This right here captures so much of the unfortunate culture in the U.S. Contreras, the person who stood up for himself, who tried to tell/show Cavalli that you can't say things like that, gets thrown out. Cavalli, gets to stay In the game and even someone calling the game, hearing his colleague express disappointment and confusion over this clearly racist moment brushes It off because he didn't use any common swear words.

One Wednesday, Cavalli issued a public apology and It sounds exactly like you'd expect. He knew what he was saying, those words rolled right off of his tongue, he knew how It would make Contreras feel and he got the reaction he wanted. He hasn't reached out to Contreras to apologize by the way, he even says In his apology that he hopes Contreras hears his message. "“I hope that he hears this and understands that was not what was intended at all. I think he knows that. But if I see him, I want to make sure that he knows that,” Does this guy not know that we have things like phones or emails so he can share his apology personally? He doesn't have to hope Contreras sees the apology at all, he can make sure of It. No respect, no real accountability. Just another white man doing whatever he wants, hurting whoever he wants and suffering zero consequences.

I've been struggling on how to wrap up this blog entry. Is there a lesson? Should I then write multiple paragraphs about how the animal agriculture system Is racist and classist to tie this directly back to veganism? Is the purpose simply to highlight another moment where the wrong punishments are handed out?

I'm not sure. I am appalled but not surprised by how this was handled, down to the Issued "apology."

What are your thoughts?

Separately, all month-long I'd love for you to challenge me with foods you'd love or would be curious to see veganized. It could be a future blog entry!

Nationals vs Red Sox benches clearing brawl; Intersectional veganism and human rights

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Hey, I'm Kimberly.

As a Vegan Educator and the creator behind this space, I spend my time covering all things vegan. My goal is to help you live your best vegan life.

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