Editorial: MLB should step to the mound on Arizona
Viernes, Abril 30th, 2010
In unleashing a state-sanctioned racial profiling law targeting Latinos, Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer has also triggered a growing economic backlash.
El Diario-La Prensa, our sister paper La Opinion in Los Angeles, and other publications, organizations, and leaders have called for an economic boycott of Arizona in response to SB-1070, a law that could lead to blanket racial profiling of Hispanic-Americans. Just in the days leading up to its approval, a California-born Latino man was arrested and detained in Arizona for supposedly not presenting his birth certificate—even after he showed his commercial driver’s license and social security card.
People are not folding their arms in the face of SB-1070. The cities of San Francisco and St. Paul, Minn., have restricted the work-related travel of their employees to Arizona. The Denver, Colorado Public Schools district has done the same.
We expect New York City to act decisively and firmly in rejecting this racially discriminatory measure. We call on New York City Comptroller John Liu and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to move to sever any economic ties the city and state may have with Arizona and to divest pension and other funds from any companies out of that state.
Individuals and Latino organizations can also take action. Organizations such as Padres Unidos have called for a boycott of Arizona-based companies like: U-Haul, U.S. Airways, and Best Western International. By directing your money to their competitors, each one of us can make clear that anti-Latino discrimination has consequences.
And this is especially true for travel to Arizona and such tourist sites like the Grand Canyon.
A number of public figures are protesting Arizona’s racial profiling—from international recording artist Shakira to pop icon Linda Ronstadt , a native of Arizona. More need to step up.
On Wednesday, Congressman Jose Serrano called for Major League Baseball (MLB) to move the site of the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix. Serrano reminded the MLB that the National Football League once made an offer Arizona could not refuse—no Superbowl. This came after NFL players warned that they would not play in a state that did not celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
MLB players, many of who are great Latino stars, must mount the same pressure.

