This past week has been an ugly one for the San Francisco Giants. One of the team’s owners, Charles Johnson, and his wife, Ann, donated $2,700 to Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Missouri Senator who is running against Mike Espy in a Mississippi runoff election Tuesday. The news led to a boycott of the team by the N.A.A.C.P. and other civil rights organizations in addition to being met with the ire of fans.
The Giants responded with a statement regarding Johnson’s donations earlier today, essentially confirming there are no plans to push Johnson out.
OFFICIAL: Statement from #SFGiants President & CEO Laurence M. Baer Regarding Political Donations
LINK: https://t.co/PmrfK9Vvk3 pic.twitter.com/RFs0GMf49L
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) November 26, 2018
With that in mind, one of the most beloved members of the Giants family, ex-third base coach Tim Flannery, announced he was taking action. Flannery has been consistently outspoken on his Twitter against the Trump administration, and today, he announced that he was making a practical step to counter Johnson and his wife’s donations.
Flannery said he will match up to $2,500 in donations to the Love Harder Project, a foundation he started. According to the website’s mission statement, the organization is a, “Non-profit charitable organization dedicated to educating the masses and putting a stop to the atrocities born from bullying and acts of violence.”
Hey here’s the deal.Charles Johnson gave$2500 bucks….so instead of you all screaming at me to do something let’s do it together . I will match $2500 hundred you give to https://t.co/paGXvVlMWp I will earn it give it, so. So the question is tweeters or are you the ‘’real’’? pic.twitter.com/I2zxytvBce
— Tim Flannery (@TimFlannery2) November 27, 2018
Flannery said on his Twitter that he’s never met Johnson and does not get paid by the Giants before he announced his plan to match donations to the Love Harder Project.
My statement to Giant fans who have attacked me. ‘’I have never met Charles Johnson. I don’t get paid 1 dollar from Giants. I’m the https://t.co/paGXvVlMWp I have a non profit that shines light on hate, racism, bullying, helps fire victims, Every penny goes. I need help please. pic.twitter.com/aCF8cCACl5
— Tim Flannery (@TimFlannery2) November 27, 2018