DC message to baseball: NO to Arizona SB 1070!
Photo by Eli Schwadron
A friend informed me that the Arizona Diamondbacks were coming to town. I found it a little out of my ballpark – I’m not into baseball. That’s until I got caught up in the local “DC metro activists’ list serve” news traffic where I found out that several local activists had gotten arrested for participating in a protest at the Washington Nationals game. I followed up with Mackenzie Baris, an organizer for DC Jobs with Justice. I wanted to share her testimony of what went down.
Baris explains that many organizations here in the DC area have been organizing actions against SB 1070 and in solidarity with the immigrant rights movement in Arizona.
“We knew that moving the All-Star game out of Phoenix is an important part of the campaign and came together to organize actions around the Diamondbacks’ visit. In spite of the rain we had about 50 people who came out …we knew that there had been actions at many other Diamondbacks games, and so far they haven’t moved Commissioner Selig to relocate the game. That’s why we decided to escalate by also having action inside the stadium, to send a strong message that there can’t be business as usual for Arizona — or Major League Baseball — while SB 1070 stands. During the 5th inning, four of us ran onto the field wearing “Legalize Arizona” t-shirts and carrying a banner that said “Boycott Racism, Stop SB 1070” while another group unfurled a banner in the stands that said “Stop SB1070, Move the Game.” Security came out and removed us, of course, and some of the fans were pretty upset with us, but we also got a number of shouts of support.”
Baris along with four others were arrested for unlawful entry, and have barred everyone involved from future games. “Our hope is that these kinds of action will make baseball plans and players look more closely at the law, and think about whether they want to be holding the All-Star Game in Arizona,” said Baris.
I plan to do some further digging to see just how involved the owner of the Diamondbacks, Ken Kendrick, may be in local politics and his connection to SB 1070. Let’s see what I find…
And please feel free to add your own thoughts and findings in the community comment box below. Thanks Eli for your photo journalism and getting us started below!
Angelica Salazar
