Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Diamondbacks Apparently At Fault for Arizona Immigration Bill

We deliberately try and stay away from politics here on SoSG, but I have to say that the LA Times' article mentioning protesters at yesterday's Dodgers-Diamondbacks game just seemed bizarre to me.

Politics and sports came together Monday evening when several hundred demonstrators used the opener of the Los Angeles Dodgers' three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks to protest that state's new immigration bill.

Holding placards that read, among other things, "Arizona Shame on You" and chanting "Boycott Arizona!" demonstrators marched up Elysian Park Avenue toward Stadium Way and assembled on the four corners outside the entrance to the stadium, walking back and forth across the streets. [...]

Unlike other efforts across the country calling for boycotts of Arizona businesses, no one was suggesting Monday that fans tear up their tickets.

"We're not going to stop them from attending the game," said John Morales, one of the organizers of the protest. "They've already bought their tickets. We're trying to make a connection between sports and politics….

So let me get this straight, people unhappy with another state's legislation decide to protest (and boo) a visiting baseball team who hails from that state. Okay.

I suppose other things people could do if they wanted to protest this law might include picketing at a Jason Mraz concert because his last name has "AZ" in it. Or they could organize a march in Malibu's agricultural areas, designated "Zone-A"s.

The effort to protest at the gates of Dodger Stadium just seems really misplaced to me, and kind of a bummer to those who want to just come watch a baseball game over a holiday weekend. Couldn't these energies be focused elsewhere?

photo swiped from this blog, "The Athiest Experience"

29 comments:

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Preaching to the choir of Neeebs here, Saxy.

Todd said...

Very good post. We were sympathetic to the protesters until we realized they took all the good free parking along Stadium Way. We arrived at 5:15 and still had to park pretty deep into Elysian Park.

Then on top of that, most of them seemed every bit as dumb as the Tea Party. One guy's sign claimed Rush Limbaugh was Hitler (funny since Rush thinks Obama is Hitler) and that the Republican Party was "The Re-incarnation of the Natzi Party." (sic)

Geniuses.

Josh S. said...

I went in the Downtown gate and parked in Lot 10. I saw none of this. There were chants emanating from the LFP early on in the game that were supposedly protest chants, but they weren't very clear.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I don't expect much intelligence from people who feel their voice is best expressed at a baseball game.

I feel the same way over the morons who protested what Phil Jackson said.

Steve Sax said...

Hey, the Atlanta Braves are next up on the schedule. I hope we don't get people protesting this guy (get it?).

Nostradamus said...

Hey, he was bound to piss somebody off when he wanted to join the North Atlanta Treaty Organization.

Josh S. said...

Look for the Civil War protest reenactors.

Nostradamus said...

Ooh, Ooh! Can I be Frederick Douglass?!

(Mixed reference above, shame on me)

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Can I be Stephen Douglas?

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Wait, I'm too tall for Stephen Douglas and too handsome for Abe Lincoln.

I'll be General Sherman and we can start on our march to the sea, beginning in AZ and ending in Atlanta.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I'm a sucker for history threads.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I'll shut up now.

Paul said...

Can I purchase a protest sign and brag that I was at the protest?

Don't they know their audience? They should have said Rush is a Giant fan.

Nostradamus said...

@Neeebs

I don't know that Billy Sherman would qualify as a protester. Pillager, maybe. You could go as John Brown, but watch yourself.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@MC:
I better start growing my beard.

Nostradamus said...

@Neeebs

I didn't think John Brown even had a beard. Just stay away from southern gentlemen who ride white horses.

Nostradamus said...

Consulting Wikipedia, I stand corrected. Full beard was in play.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Now if I can only work on the "fiery eyes" and the crazy hair.

Steve Sax said...

given how this comment thread has turned, I added a picture.

TACO said...

I think they were trying to protest in the LFP. It didn't bother me because it seemed like once they'd get it started, all it did was get the crowd to do "Let's Go Dodgers" even louder. The energy was cool if the protest location misguided.

what_difference_does_it_make said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Steve Sax said...

Fair point on the religious guys, whom I saw this Opening Day on the Sunset Gate (but forgot to take a picture). Seeing them there almost wanted to make me go to their Sunday churches and hold up a sign that said "Manny Ramirez Batting Jerseys Are Coming (to the frist 15,000 kids in attendance)".

Steve Sax said...

hey, you removed your comment! Bummer.

what_difference_does_it_make said...

I have to disagree a bit with this one, I get that the Arizona Diamondbacks have nothing to do with the bill but the reason they (the protesters) probably did it at Dodger Stadium was so that they can get more media exposure. I know they had also mentioned that the Dodgers are connected to the bill (indirectly) because they hold spring training in Arizona. I myself have attended Spring Training for the past 2 years, and as an American from Mexican descent I know I will not return to watch the Dodgers in Arizona if they do not overturn the bill because I feel it is an unjust law...

On a side note, I haven't seen anyone complain about the Churchies that gather there on the weekends holding yellow signs that read
“Judgement day is coming" and other signs with various biblical quotes, what does forcing your religion's beliefs have to do with the Dodgers?!?

Kyle Baker said...

I complain about those churchies, for the record. I taunt them as I drive by and tell them motto foist their fairy tales on me.

what_difference_does_it_make said...

I always pat them on the shoulder, look them straight in the eye and tell them "Satan loves you" lol I think one of them cried one time lol

Steve Sax said...

Just spoke with my mom regarding Monday's game, and she confirmed that the Arizona protesting contingent was totally annoying many of the people trying to park in the Dodger Stadium lots, as they kept walking back and forth and preventing people from being able to turn into the lot.

rbnlaw said...

I have only this to add: TECUMSEH!!

Re, the protesters:
Meh, free country and all. I, personally, am boycotting the Grand Canyon for its abuses of sandstone over the ages.

Eric Karros said...

Actually, there is no wrong reason to protest a Jason Mraz concert.