PRESS ADVISORY
Contact: John Morales, (213) 948-6160, kno_one213@yahoo.com

Hundreds Rally Against SB 1070, Protest Against MLB, L.A. Dodgers

WHAT: Rally to protest Arizona’s anti-immigrant and racial profiling law, SB 1070 as well as to call on the Los Angeles Dodgers to change their spring training facility out of Arizona and the MLB to change the 2011 All-Star game out of Arizona.
WHEN: Monday, May 31 – March starts at 4:30pm and Press Conference at 5pm
WHERE: March starts at corner of Sunset Blvd. & Elysian Park Blvd.
Press Conference: Dodger Stadium, corner of Elysian Park & Stadium Way
WHO: Members from Presente.org, Boycott Arizona – Los Angeles Committee

LOS ANGELES – As pressure continues to mount against Major League Baseball (MLB) to move the 2011 All-Star Game from Arizona, members from Presente.org will join Boycott Arizona to rally and protest the upcoming game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks and demand that the All-Star Game, as well as the Dodgers’ spring training facility, be moved from the state. The protest – which is part of the MoveTheGame.org campaign – will take place on Monday, May 31, at 4:30pm marching…

Peralta Leads Boycott Of Arizona’s All-Star Game (NY1)

On Friday, State Senator José Peralta (D-13) joined forces with MoveTheGame.org to deliver petitions signed by 10,000 New Yorkers calling on the Mets to boycott the 2011 All-Star Game in Arizona.

With pressure mounting and more players speaking out, it is clear team officials will have to go on the record soon. As the Wall Street Journal reported, “the Yankees have not responded to calls; a spokesman for the Mets declined to discuss the issue.”

Despite the rain, Marlins fans came out in full force against the Arizona immigration law on Monday. But the protesters weren’t the only ones who spoke up. Both Jorge Cantú (Florida Marlins–3B) and Augie Ojeda (Arizona Diamondbacks–SS) weighed in on what they think is an unjust and shameful law.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig finally broke his silence yesterday on the question of whether to move the 2011 All-Star Game out of Phoenix to a state that doesn’t discriminate. Unfortunately, he was defensive and disappointing.

Full quote:
“Apparently all the people around and in minority communities think we’re doing OK,” he said. “That’s the issue, and that’s the answer. I told the clubs today: ‘Be proud of what we’ve done.’ They are. We should. And that’s our answer. We control our own fate, and we’ve done very well.”

Cue Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler . . . Really?!? Really! Here’s our response . ..

“Commissioner Selig cannot hide behind reports and studies. The fact of the matter is that the law passed in Arizona legislates racism, fear and hate. A league that calls itself ‘America’s Past Time’ has a responsibility to speak out against a law that so clearly is counter to our nation’s values. The Major League Baseball Players Association, many individual players and the National Basketball Association have shown tremendous leadership and spoken out against this law. It is now time for Bud Selig to step up to the plate and say that if Arizona does…

“The next move belongs to Bud Selig.”

That’s the first line from a blog post Move the Game was quoted today in the LA Times about what baseball is going to do about the 2011 All-Star Game. Our own Doug Gordon was quoted thus:

“Bud Selig should show some leadership instead of waiting for things to happen around him. Baseball’s silence on this has been deafening.”

Exactly . . . you can get the full story here.

The pressure is escalating as more from the baseball community speak out, teams like the Phoenix “Los Suns” and their ownership makes clear statements against the law, and fans across the country plan boycotts and demonstrations in other baseball stadiums.

Stay tuned . . .

We have a website!! After a week of fans posting to our Facebook page, we’ve finally got a proper site. And the timing is perfect, because the pressure is building . . . Rev. Jesse Jackson sent a letter on Monday to Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig urging him to move the All-Star Game out of Phoenix in 2011.

Here’s a snippet:

The Arizona law will have a devastating impact on the integrity and public image of Major League Baseball. Imagine if players or their families are stopped and interrogated by law enforcement – not just during all-star week, but during any games – spring training (where half of the teams locate in Arizona) and regular season – played in Arizona. That would truly be a dark day for Major League Baseball. We urge MLB to take all necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of your players, coaches, staff and their families.

(You can read the full letter on USA Today’s Daily Pitch blog.)
What do you think? Between players, Ozzie Guillen’s awesome outburst, and now high profile civil rights leaders, do you think Selig has to respond soon?