San Francisco Giants Pride Night drama sparks DOJ probe as feds rip MLB hypocrisy: ‘Double standard’

The growing controversy surrounding the San Francisco Giants and Major League Baseball’s response to players displaying Bible verses on their hats during a Pride Night game has put the league in hot water with federal authorities.

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights at Department of Justice, announced in a scathing letter on Thursday that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would investigate the case.

Dhillon’s letter, addressed to MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, blasted the league for potential violations of the law.

“The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League’s vehicle for pro-Pride messages,” she wrote.

The debate began after Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote “Gen 9:12-16” on their rainbow-themed Pride Night caps during a game last week against the Chicago Cubs. The Bible passage references God’s covenant with Noah and describes the rainbow as a sign of that promise.

San Francisco’s LGBTQ condemned the displays, with the MLB issued warnings to the playerswhile emphasizing they were not related to the religious message itself.

“To be clear, this routine verbal warning … had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message,” MLB said in a statement.

The league noted that uniform regulations prohibit players from writing any messages on apparel or equipment and said similar warnings have previously been issued for phrases such as “Dad” and “Happy Mother’s Day.”

Dhillon did not buy the MLB’s reasoning, pointing to the fact that the league allowed players to wear “Black Lives Matter” patches on uniforms, which is a “double standard.”

“Employers may not use facially neutral policies as a ‘pretext for discrimination,’” she said, citing a past Supreme Court case.

“The Trump Administration is committed to combatting religious discrimination,” Dhillon continued. “The Department of Justice will use all available means to hold employers accountable for violating the religious rights of their employees.”

Republicans nationwide have reacted with fury to situation, with prominent politicians such as Sen. Josh Hawley demanding answers. Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie revealed that he was “really upset and disappointed” by the displays.

Manfred has not publicly commented on the controversy’s political backlash, and the MLB has declined to comment.

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