Six Cal softball players harassed in Louisiana during anthem protest

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Six Cal softball players were verbally harassed by fans at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La., on Friday while kneeling during the national anthem. The altercation occurred before the first of two games over three days the Bears played against the University of Lousiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns that included one six-inning mercy rule final and two ejections.

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"Stand up!" fans could be heard yelling repeatedly on the ESPN Plus telecast Friday. "Stand up, California!"

"Liberal wokeness" was shouted multiple times by the same man before a cascade of boos poured down from the stands directed at the athletes. The yelling appeared to only be coming from men — multiple women in the stands, including one in ULL gear sitting right next to the man screaming "liberal wokeness," could be seen waving their hands furiously asking them to stop.

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After the yelling started, members of the Cal softball team who weren't kneeling built a wall behind the kneeling players, and a Cal staffer not in uniform and another player joined in on the kneeling. Then, most of the team began holding hands. Once the anthem concluded, the Cal staffer gestured with their arms to the crowd asking for more "boos," before a Cal player wrapped their arm around them and gently guided them toward the dugout.

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