Join The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in urging Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 all-star game from Arizona, America’s apartheid state.
Yesterday, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game showcased the diversity of the game, with many Latino and African-American players on the field. On Monday, Dominican player David Ortiz won the Home Run Derby, beating the top home run hitters in the game.
Although the league is currently reflective of diversity, the location of next year’s All-Star Game does not reflect the values of inclusion. The 2011 All-Star game is scheduled to be played in Phoenix, Arizona, where a new law, SB 1070, allows the police to stop anyone they “suspect” of being an undocumented immigrant. This means that many of Major League Baseball’s star players, their families, and their fans, would be subject to discrimination and racial profiling in Arizona. Several Major League Baseball players have already said they will not play in the 2011 All-Star game next year if it is held in Arizona.
Professional sports have a responsibility to the community to exercise leadership. The NCAA does not allow post-season events, such as the Final Four, to occur in states that fly the Confederate flag. The NFL moved the Super Bowl out of Arizona years ago when the state failed to recognize the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. Major League Baseball must adhere to the same standard.
Tell Bud Selig to step up to the plate and support the players and their fans by moving the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star game out of Arizona. Write Commissioner Selig and tell him that Major League Baseball should take a stand against bigotry and intolerance.
Pingback: Scientist Questions Baseball's HGH Testing Plan – The Ledger | Baseball
Pingback: Score Board
This article contains false information. Arizona is NOT a racist state. It is a state that welcomes all people of all creeds, colors, nationalities and religions. However, it believes that these people should come into the country LEGALLY. Since the federal government will not uphold its responsibility in this, the State must take matters into its own hands. Bravo for them for doing it. That being said, as a baseball agent, I know first hand that every major league baseball player is in the country LEGALLY. As such, they will have no problem visiting the great state of Arizona. The new law does NOT require (nor allow) law enforcement officers to stop people suspected of being here illegally. It allows law enforcement to check legal status if, AFTER A LEGAL STOP IS MADE, if the officer reasonably suspects the person is here illegally. Read the bill yourself to see. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf. Section 11-1051, Article 8 (A) spells it out. Arizona has been negatively affected by drug trafficking, human smuggling and violent crimes caused by illegal aliens for way to long. This law is about the preservation of a quality and LEGAL existence in the state of Arizona. It has NOTHING to do with racism and the author of this article should do his or her homework before writing such a blatantly false piece of information.