Yankees’ Twitter account eschews game updates to talk gun violence

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees joined the Rays in using their social media channels to “offer facts about the impacts of gun violence” instead of game coverage during Thursday’s game between the two teams.

The move was made in response to “the devastating events that have taken place in Uvalde [Texas], Buffalo and countless other communities across our nation.”

“Every day, more than 110 Americans are killed with guns, and more than 200 are shot and injured,’ the team tweeted, adding that “Firearms were the leading cause of death for American children and teens in 2020.”

The Rays’ Twitter account shared the same information.

On Wednesday, the Yankees and Orioles held a moment of silence at Yankee Stadium to honor to victims of the shooting at Robb Elementary School, leaving 19 children and two school teachers dead.

They join several pro sports teams and personalities to speak out after the tragedy.

The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics held a moment of silence before their Game 5 at FTX Arena, with the Heat urging fans to call the US Capitol and push for “common sense gun laws.”

That followed Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s impassioned plea on Tuesday.

“I’m so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to devastated families that are out there,” he told reporters ahead of the Warriors’ Game 4 against the Mavericks. “I’m tired of excuses, I’m tired of moments of silence. Enough! There’s 50 senators who refuse to vote on HR-8, which is a background check rule that the House passed two years ago.”