As reported here, in response to the recent passing of the controversial and divisive Arizona immigration law, United States House Representative Jose Serrano, a Democrat from New York, wrote a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bud Selig urging him to pull the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix.
And although the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) has issued a statement voicing its opposition to the legislation, in addition to subtly threatening further action if the law is not modified or repealed, Selig and MLB have declined to comment on the matter.
However, if nothing else, Selig will have to take careful note of the latest development in the immigration battle, as it pertains to MLB's stance, because it involves the teams in baseball’s biggest market.
The Working Families Party (WFP) , New York’s “liveliest and most progressive political party”, has begun circulating a petition it plans to deliver to New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon and New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
The petition, which has a goal of 10,000 signatures and a current tally of over 9,600signers, urges the owners to “take a stand for your players, immigrants and all Americans by publicly pledging not to participate in the 2011 All-Star Game unless it is moved out of Arizona or Arizona repeals its anti-immigrant, anti-American law.”
In a letter to the party’s 130,000 supporters, WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor wrote:
“Will Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera have to show ID to take the mound next year?
Major League Baseball’s 2011 All-Star Game will be hosted in Arizona, where a harsh new immigration law requires police to detain anyone they “suspect” might be an undocumented immigrant unless they can prove their legal status on the spot.
If Mets or Yankees players attend the All-Star Game, they could be subjected to the same suspicion, profiling, and harassment now threatening thousands of Arizonans — both immigrants and citizens. But if New York’s baseball teams say they won’t go, they could become leaders in a national push to move the All-Star Game out of Arizona unless this law is repealed.”
Cantor goes on to say:
“Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers made civil rights history right here in Brooklyn. It’s time the Yankees and Mets live up to that legacy by forcing MLB to move the All-Star game out of Arizona.”
Formed in New York twelve years ago, by a grassroots coalition of community organizations, neighborhood activists, and labor unions, the Working Family Party is no stranger to immigration law battles as they played a critical role in defeating anti-immigrant legislation in Suffolk County in 2007.
Will a petition be enough to convince the Mets and the Yankees to join the fray in Arizona? That remains to be seen. According to NYDailyNews.com, the teams have not responded to requests for comment.
Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a video of a protest of the law at an Arizona Diamondbacks-Chicago Cubs game.
Mets, Yankees urged to boycott 2011 All-Star Game by NY Political Party
