The Congressional Baseball Game Started With A Silent Tribute To Wednesday’s Practice Field Shooting

Players on both clubs observed a moment of silence before tonight’s Congressional Baseball Game. The gesture with a public alignment of both Republicans and Democrats occurs just one day removed from Wednesday’s congressional baseball field shooting that saw multiple people wounded by James T. Hodgkinson including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise who was struck in the hip. Scalise is currently in critical condition and has undergone three surgeries for his injuries.

Footage of the moment of silence and prayer at Washington D.C.’s Nationals Park quickly emerged online (we have the Fox News capture above) with reports of a massive turnout for the charity event. As a show of support, the official Washington Nationals Twitter account has taken their focus away from tonight’s game against the Mets to spotlight the Congressional Baseball Game on their social media.

According to Fox News, event organizers are expecting the game to generate more than $1 million to charity with The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, The Capitol Police fund, The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and The Washington Literacy Center scoring the money raised. That projection would be more than double what the event earned last year.

US Capitol Police officer David Bailey came out on crutches to throw the evening’s first pitch. Bailey was shot and wounded in the attack.

(Via Fox News & CNN)