I've helped spearhead a group of Latino, progressive, unions and sports activists to come together and ask Bud Selig and MLB to join with the MLBPA and denounce Arizona's hateful immigration law SB 1070.
Latino, Sports, and Progressive Advocates to MLB: Move the 2011 All-Star Game from Arizona! Letter Calls on MLB Commissioner Selig to Move 2011 Game Due to New AZ Immigration Law
Washington, DC – Prominent organizations fighting against the discriminatory and damaging Arizona anti-immigration law will send a letter tomorrow to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bud Selig urging him to remove the 2011 All-Star Game from its scheduled location in Phoenix, AZ and to pressure teams to re-locate spring training games from locations within the state.
The letter states, “Major League Baseball has a strong history of supporting minorities and civil rights in America, which began when Jackie Robinson became the first African-American baseball player in 1947. As you are well aware, over a quarter of all Major League Baseball players are Latino, and almost 40% of your players are people of color. In this moment of crisis, these players – and baseball’s millions of Latino and immigrant fans – deserve a loud and clear message that the League finds this law unacceptable. We strongly urge you to relocate the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix and to pressure teams to pull all winter and spring training games from Arizona while this un-American law is in effect.”
This Tuesday at 11 AM Eastern on a telephonic conference call, join with several of the prominent signers of the letter to discuss their request to Commissioner Selig, to learn about follow-up activities, and to put the controversy over the Arizona law into a larger context.
Among the organizations and advocates signing onto the letter include civil rights and advocacy organizations such as Presente.org, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), People For the American Way, Center for New Community, Border Action Network, and America’s Voice; labor organizations such as the AFL-CIO and SEIU; and an array of bloggers and representatives from online outlets, including Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga of Daily Kos, John Amato of CrooksandLiars.com, and Julio Pabon of LatinoSports.com.
WHO: John Amato, Founder & President, CrooksandLiars.com
Roberto Lovato, Co-Founder, Presente.org
Clarissa Martinez, Director, Immigration & National Campaigns, National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
Doug Gordon, Founder, MoveTheGame.org, Vice President, Fenton
Frank Sharry, Executive Director, America’s Voice
WHAT: Organizations & Advocates to MLB: Move the 2011 All-Star Game from Arizona!
WHEN: Tuesday, May 11th at 11 AM Eastern
CALL IN: Dial: 1-800-895-1085, Passcode: “BOYCOTT” America's Voice -- Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform.
The 2011 All Star game must be moved if the law is not repealed. We're holding a press conference in the morning so stay tuned. We are also telling the players who speak out against this racially motivated law: "We got your back."
