Missouri AG warns MLB not to punish players for religious and moral beliefs

MISSOURI (KQTV) -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway wrote a letter urging MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred not to discipline players who expressed "dissent" from wearing "Pride Night" hats.

The letter, posted to Facebook, says:

"It has come to my attention that MLB is considering disciplining members of the San Francisco Giants who expressed their dissent from wearing 'Pride Night' hats- by either writing Bible verses on those hats or wearing the regular Giants cap."

Hanaway said, in response to the player's alternatives, the MLB said the writing on the cap "violates its rules, and consistent with normal practice," it has "warned players about future violations."

In her letter, Hanaway said Missouri would "not tolerate" any threat to punish a player for exercising his sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. "Doing so is illegal and un-American," she said.

Hanaway also said the MLB's action to force its employees to showcase viewpoints that conflict with their religious and moral beliefs is both against federal and state law.

The Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from imposing uniform requirements that unnecessarily burden employees' religious observances.

Missouri law also prohibits discriminating against employees based on their religious beliefs through Missouri Statute 213.055(1)(a).

"MLB's actions are also just plain wrong," Hanaway said. "As America's pastime, baseball should not discriminate against the political, moral or religious beliefs of any player."

Hanaway is asking the commissioner to respond to her letter by June 25, saying it will not discipline any players who have chosen to refrain from wearing Pride Month paraphernalia or include Bible verses on Pride Month hats.

If the commissioner doesn't respond, Hanaway said she would open an investigation to "determine whether MLB is violating the religious liberty rights of players and employees in Missouri."

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley also wrote a letter to MLB Commissioner Manfred. He posted the letter on X, formerly known as Twitter.