Boycott Baseball? Immigration Rights Activists Take On Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field

By Jennifer Braudaway CHICAGO, IL.—Scores of immigration rights activists gathered today outside Wrigley Stadium in Chicago, Ill., at the opening of a four-game Cubs series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The action was part of a national movement to "boycott Arizona" after its recent passing of SB1070, a state statute that, as In These Times has reported, would make illegal immigration a state crime and require local police to inspect the documentation of anyone they suspected to be an illegal immigrant. Though the leader of the “Boycott Arizona 2010” campaign, Tony Herrera, maintains the Diamondbacks are one of the largest contributors to Republican lawmakers in Ariz., the protesters’ call to “Boycott D-backs” had more to do with protesting SB1070, than with the baseball team itself. At the rally, protesters chanted “Boycott Racism!” and “Go Cubs! Strike Out Hate!” Many were there to stand up for immigrant rights in general, like activist Juan Perez who wore a shirt that said “undocumented and unafraid.” Perez said he was there to support the students who have grown up in this country, done well in school and graduated, only to find they cannot get a job because they are undocumented. The statute, which opponents say will institutionalize racial profiling, has sparked national outrage and has given the immigration reform movement a much-needed spotlight in time for the nationwide May Day immigration reform protests, planned for this Saturday in more than 50 U.S. cities. Activists plan on protesting at the remaining Cubs-Diamondbacks games. (Photo by Jennifer Braudaway via Flickr)