Not only do the Arizona Diamondbacks have a lot of Hispanic ballplayers, but a ton of other teams player here in the regular season. Furthermore, Arizona has become a hotbed for Spring Training. Every team has a strong influence of foreign players.
See this Diary by Spud1 yesterday where the following was posed
Hispanics make up about 30% of the rosters of Major League Baseball teams, and most of them are from outside of the U.S. There is a MLB team in Arizona, the Diamondbacks, and of the 25 men on their roster, six were born outside the U.S. (including one in Germany). There are 15 other teams in the National League, all of which are scheduled to play at least three games in Phoenix. Some American League teams will play there as well this season.
And so I ask: the organization that led our nation in desegregation, that has provided a livelihood for men from impoverished Latino nations, will it take a stand against this new law in Arizona?
There is a long tradition of baseball players not playing because of their beliefs; Sandy Koufax refused to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it was scheduled on Yom Kippur, for example. Some Christian players have refused to stand during the playing of the U.S. national anthem.
So my question is, will any Major League players, be they native born or not, boycott their team's games in Phoenix? Will any Major League teams threaten to boycott their games, risking losses on their records, to protest this new law?
This law takes racial profiling to a whole new level and mandates that we judge people immediately on the color of their skin and not the content of their character. Republicans such as Arizona Senator McCain remarks only that its regrettable if this law leads to racial profiling. Based on today's news it already has.
But the only way to get the Arizona legislators and state officials to see the errors of their ways is to hit them right in the pocketbook. Start with one MLB game. Then If teams pull out of Spring Training you will see a loss of more tax revenue and spending dollars.
Many in the business Community are already concerned that tourist dollars and employers will leave the state . The Super Bowl Controversy provides this frame of reference as to what could be lost
Tourism officials estimated Phoenix alone lost almost 170 conventions and an estimated $300 million in benefits from the controversy.
Even if you are not a baseball fan you will release the power of an economic boycott on the tourism industry. I definitely won't go to Arizona until the law is repealed. So what have you done to make your voice heard in this controversy? Do something.
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