Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks will be faced with
protests at visiting stadiums across the country due to the passage of a
controversial new immigration law passed there.
The Arizona
Republic reported
Thursday that sponsors of the protest believe that the team's owner
supports "Republican politics." Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer
signed the bill last week. The bill, which requires state law
enforcement to check the documentation of individuals they suspect are
illegal immigrants is causing a stir in Arizona -- where some have
called for a boycott of the state -- and also on Capitol Hill.
House
Democrats are using the bill to push the Senate to pass a comprehensive
immigration reform bill. Nearly all Democrats and several Republicans
in Congress have voiced worry about the bill. Many other Republicans
have said that Arizona has the right to pass its own laws on the issue. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to play the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field Thursday, and stadium managers are preparing for a protest.
Aided by the creation of Facebook pages such as "Boycott Arizona 2010," organizers of the protest say that the Diamondbacks should be prepared for similar scenes in every city they visit this season. Tony Herrera, who created "Boycott Arizona 2010," told the Republic, "This team is an ambassador for Arizona, and the
owner, Mr. (Ken) Kendrick, is a big supporter of Republican politics.
This new law was a Republican bill. Until the law is changed, there
should be protests." The Diamondbacks responded Thursday in a statement, saying, "Although D-backs' Managing
General Partner Ken Kendrick has donated to Republican political
candidates in the past, the organization has communicated to Boycott
Arizona 2010 leader Tony Herrera that Kendrick personally opposes
(Senate) Bill 1070. The team also explained that Kendrick is one of
nearly 75 owners of the D-backs and none of his, nor do the other
owners', personal contributions reflect organizational preferences. The
D-backs have never supported (Senate) Bill 1070, nor has the team ever
taken a political stance or position on any legislation." This
isn't the only way baseball has come into play when it comes to the
Arizona immigration law. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) has called on Major
League Baseball (MLB) to move its All-Star game from Phoenix this
season. "As a fervent baseball fan and a supporter of
immigrants’ rights, I cannot abide the thought of a celebration like the
All-Star Game being held in Phoenix this year,” Serrano said in a
statement. “I will be reaching out to contacts in Major League Baseball
in the coming days and urging them in the strongest possible terms to
move the All-Star Game to another state." The prospect of
that appears unlikely for now, MLB selects its All-Star sites years in
advance.
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