Arizona immigration law protesters arrested at major league baseball owners meeting

[Better Believe It]

Protesters Rally To Move Next Year's All-Star Baseball Game
By: Scott Theisen
August 11, 2010

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig was in Minneapolis Wednesday for a quarterly meeting and to celebrate the completion of Target Field.

But, the cheers outside his meeting were anything but positive. Hundreds protested outside that meeting at the Graves Hotel Wednesday afternoon.

The group wants next year's All-Star game moved because it will be in Arizona and they're against the new immigration law. They say an event that could pump $60 million into Arizona's economy belongs elsewhere.

The group tried to deliver 110,000 petitions to Selig.

When police asked them to leave they refused and five people were arrested.



See the TV newscast video at:

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1694002.shtml?cat=1


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Protesters arrested trying to deliver petitions to Selig
Star-Tribune.com
August 12, 2010

Five people were arrested in Minneapolis in an attempt to deliver more than 110,000 petitions to Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, asking him to move the 2011 All-Star Game out of Arizona.

The arrests occurred at the quarterly MLB owners' meeting, which is being held at the Graves 601 Hotel.

The petitions, part of a national campaign, were an attempt by activists in protest of Arizona's controversial law SB 1070, an anti-illegal immigration measure that enables police to challenge the resident status of anyone they encounter during their duties.

Numerous major league players, managers and coaches have spoken out against the law, with Latino players such as Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo and Kansas City's Joakim Soria having said they would refuse to participate in next year's All-Star Game if it is held in Phoenix as scheduled.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/100487909.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU


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Move the Game
For Immediate Release
Contact: Natali Fani, [phone] or [e-mail]
Brandon Hatler, [phone] or [e-mail]

Civil Rights Advocates Arrested for Trying to Deliver over 110 Thousand Petitions to MLB Commissioner Selig Asking to Move the Game out of AZ

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, five civil rights advocates were arrested during their attempt to deliver over 110 thousand petitions to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bud Selig, asking him to move the 2011 All-Star Game out of Arizona. The arrests occurred during this month’s quarterly MLB team owners’ Meeting in Minneapolis as advocates approached the meeting to hand-over the petitions.

“Today, we are at the MLB team owners’ meeting on behalf of more than 110,000 civil rights advocates and baseball fans who are calling on Bud Selig to keep America’s top pastime as a social institution,” stated Carlos Roa from Presente.org. “Instead of acknowledging our massive demand to protect civil rights, Commissioner Selig has refused for the second time to receive our petitions and has allowed civil rights advocates to get arrested during this peaceful action.”

In a clear recognition of the threat posed by Arizona’s anti-immigrant and racial profiling law SB 1070, MLB teams are providing trainings and identification cards to players in the event they are racially profiled or harassed in Arizona. Nonetheless, Commissioner Selig fails to state whether or not he would move the game out of Arizona. Numerous players, managers and coaches have already spoken out against the law, and several have said they will refuse to participate in the 2011 All-Star Game scheduled in Arizona.

The rally and protest is part of the national MoveTheGame.org campaign – a coalition of organizations led by Presente.org and MoveOn.org, which has coordinated several rallies, protests and other events across the country in reaction to Arizona’s passage of SB 1070.

“It is obvious that Commissioner Selig cares more about the profits of baseball than protecting the human and civil rights of players and fans. We won’t rest until Commissioner Selig and MLB team owners stand on the right side of history,” stated Roa.

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http://movethegame.org/2010/08/11/5-arrested-at-mlb-owners-meeting-in-minneapolis/

[Better Believe It]

1. Sign the Petition!

Dear Commissioner Selig:

Arizona’s extreme immigration law is an invitation to racial profiling and harassment of Arizona residents and anybody who visits the state, including MLB players, their families and fans.

Baseball is America’s National Pastime. It’s estimated the All-Star Game could bring as much as $60 million to the host region. Arizona doesn’t deserve to profit from discrimination and to host one of the great annual sporting events with your consent. Do what’s best for baseball and move the 2011 All-Star Game unless Arizona changes its harmful and hateful immigration law.

Sign the petition at:

http://movethegame.org/sign-the-petition/


And Organize an Event at Your Local Ballpark

Step One: Pick a game. Night games are usually better because people can come after work. To find out when the Arizona Diamondbacks will be in your town, click here.

Step Two: Download signs. You can use the ones we’ve made or create your own — just be sure to make noise and let people know you’re there!

[Better Believe It]

2. Major League Baseball players, managers and officials speak out against SB 1070

Players, managers, and officials across Major League Baseball have been been courageously speaking out against SB 1070:

Carlos Beltrán (New York Mets–OF)

“I’m against this law. There are a lot of Latinos who come here and try to have a better future. It’s hard for the people who come here from Mexico to this country.” — July 20, NY Daily News

Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals–1B)

“I’m opposed to it. How are you going to tell me that, me being Hispanic, if you stop me and I don’t have my ID, you’re going to arrest me? That can’t be.” — July 12, USA Today

Yovani Gallardo (Milwaukee Brewers–P)

“If the game is in Arizona, I will totally boycott.” — July 12, Associated Press

José Valverde (Detroit Tigers–P)

“To me, it’s the stupidest thing you can ever have. <...> Us Latinos have contributed so much to this country. <...> We’re the ones out there cleaning the streets. Americans don’t want to do that stuff. <...> As a public figure and with the heart I have, this affects me a lot. Because they’re not thinking about the children this effects. We’ve accomplished our goals. But what about the young kids who have only been here for a year or for months? They’re unable to make their way in the world.” — July 12, MLB.com

Miguel Batista (Washington Nationals–P)

“Because I have an accent, you have a right to ask me for my papers? Because I’m not blonde with blue eyes? What do you actually base the stereotype on to have to ask me for my papers?” — July 12, ESPN

Jerry Hairston Jr. (San Diego Padres–2B/SS)

“It’s not right. I can’t imagine my mom — who’s been a U.S. citizen longer than I’ve been alive, who was born and raised in Mexico — being asked to show her papers. I can’t imagine that happening. So it kind of hits home for me.” — July 12, ESPN

Edwin Rodriguez (Florida Marlins–Manager)

“I will tell you, as a minority, I’m concerned about the law.” — July 12, ESPN

Heath Bell (San Diego Padres–P)

“If Adrian is voted in next year and doesn’t go, I wouldn’t be surprised if I wouldn’t go to stick up for my teammate. <...> I have a lot of friends that are not white. Sometimes you need to stick up for your friends and family.” — July 12, ESPN

Jose Bautista (Toronto Blue Jays–OF)

“We have to back up our Latin communities.” — July 12, Associated Press

Joakim Soria (Kansas City Royals–P)

“They could stop me and ask to see my papers. I have to stand with my Latin community on this.” — July 12, Associated Press

Jorge Cantú (Florida Marlins–3B)

“This hits me in the heart. I do not accept it. It’s a shame. It is sad news for my country, but not only Mexicans. Latin people. It’s just a shame for all those people here looking for a better life. They are looking for a better standard of living, and this knocks down their dreams. It is really upsetting.” — May 17, Miami Herald

Augie Ojeda (Arizona Diamondbacks–SS)

“If I leave the park after a game and I get stopped, am I supposed to have papers on me? I don’t think that’s fair.” — May 17, Miami Herald

Michael Young (Texas Rangers–3B)

“You can quote me. It’s a ridiculous law. And it’s an embarrassment for American citizens.” — May 12, Sporting News

Frank Francisco (Texas Rangers–P)

“I put myself in that situation and it is scary. No way you are going to carry your passport everywhere you go because that is a very important document and, if you lose it, you endanger your ability to work. This does not feel like America to me.” — May 12, Sporting News

Alexei Ramírez (Chicago White Sox–SS)

“I’m against it.” — May 6, Sports Illustrated

Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres–1B)

“It’s immoral. They’re violating human rights. In a way, it goes against what this country was built on. This is discrimination. Are they going to pass out a picture saying “You should look like this and you’re fine, but if you don’t, do people have the right to question you?’ That’s profiling.” — May 1, San Diego Union-Tribune

Ozzie Guillén (Chicago White Sox–Manager)

“I’m not going. I have to support my people, people I believe in.” — May 1, NY Post

César Izturis (Baltimore Orioles–SS)

“It’s a bad thing. Now they’re going to go after everybody, not just the people behind the wall. Now they’re going to come out on the street. What if you’re walking on the street with your family and kids? They’re going to go after you.” — May 1, ESPN

Rod Barajas (New York Mets–C)

“If they happen to pull someone over who looks like they are of Latin descent, even if they are a U.S. citizen, that is the first question that is going to be asked. But if a blond-haired, blue-eyed Canadian gets pulled over, do you think they are going to ask for their papers? No.” — May 1, NY Times

Scott Hairston (San Diego Padres–OF)

“I definitely disagree with it, can’t really see anything positive about it, and I just hope it doesn’t lead to a lot of chaos. It just wasn’t necessary to pass a bill like that.” — May 1, San Diego Union-Tribune

Joe Saunders (Los Angeles Angels–OF)

“We’re behind you guys 100%.” — May 1, LA Times

Bobby Abreu (Los Angeles Angels–OF)

“You’re not going to be on the street every time with your passport, because you’re afraid you might lose it.” — May 1, LA Times

Yorvit Torrealba (San Diego Padres–C)

“This is racist stuff. It’s not fair for a young guy who comes here from South America, and just because he has a strong accent, he has to prove on the spot if he’s illegal or not. <...> I don’t see this being right. Why do I want to go play in a place where every time I go to a restaurant and they don’t understand what I’m trying to order, they’re going to ask me for ID first? That’s bull. I come from a crazy country (Venezuela). Now Arizona seems a little bit more crazy.” — May 1, San Diego Union-Tribune

Adrián Beltré (Boston Red Sox–3B)

“For an older guy, we can handle it. But you have guys 17 or 18 years old there for spring training. If they forget their papers, something could happen.” — May 1, FGNPR

José Guillén (Kansas City Royals–DH)

“I’ve never seen anything like that in the United States, and Arizona is part of the United States. I hope police aren’t going to stop every dark-skinned person. It’s kind of like, wow, what’s going on.” — April 30, Yahoo Sports

Kyle McClellan (St. Louis Cardinals–P)

“The All-Star game, it’s going to generate a lot of revenue. Look at what it did here for St. Louis. It was a huge promotion for this city and this club and it’s one of those things where it’s something that would definitely leave a mark on them if we were to pull out of there. It would get a point across.” — April 30, CBS News

MLB Players’ Association President Michael Weiner

“The Major League Baseball Players Association opposes this law as written. We hope that the law is repealed or modified promptly. If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.” — April 30, CNN