All five Boston sports teams are taking a united stand against racism following several incidents at Fenway Park, most recently a controversial banner, and before that, racist encounters.
According to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox wanted to do something and started meeting with community leaders, enlisting the help of the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Revolution.
The move comes after a number of incidents here at Fenway - including the unfurling of that banner last week that read, “Racism is as American as baseball.”
Four people were escorted out of the park after the banner was unfurled, though no arrests were made and no one was banned from returning to the park.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh responded to the banner, saying, "In a way, it's a positive message - I think the wrong place to put it because you can't bring something into Fenway Park. They won't let you do that, but they did it, so not much more I can say about it."
Another incident occurred in May when the Baltimore Orioles were at Fenway and outfielder Adam Jones was the target of a racial slur.
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The Red Sox apologized to Jones, as well as Mayor Walsh and Governor Charlie Baker. The attendee who used the racial slur was permanently banned from Fenway Park.
The teams plan launch the take the lead project - which will feature a public service announcement with various Boston athletes urging fans to stand up to racism.
It will play at Fenway, Gillette and the TD Garden, with the hope of starting a constructive conversation about race.
The Globe says the project will be announced next week at Fenway Park.
Another initiative is underway in the potential changing of Yawkey Way.
Boston Red Sox owner John Henry told the Boston Herald that he wants to see the name of Yawkey Way changed.
Henry said he's "haunted" by the racist legacy of Tom Yawkey, the former owner of the Red Sox for whom the street is named. He said the team should lead the way in renaming the street outside Fenway Park, which has borne Yawkey's name for four decades.
The city would have to approve the name change.
