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Mr. Bud Selig

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Step Up to the Plate

Take Action Now: Major League Baseball must take a stand against discrimination and intolerance. Write Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and tell him to move the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star game from Arizona.

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game showcases the diversity of the league, with many Latino and African-American players selected for the game. Currently, the 2011 All-Star game is scheduled to be played in Phoenix, Arizona, where Governor Jan Brewer signed S.B. 1070 into law, which legalized racial profiling by requiring the police to stop anyone they have a "reasonable suspicion" to believe is undocumented – that is, Latino. The day before the law was to take effect, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton blocked this section of the law from taking effect.

Governor Brewer stated, “this fight is far from over,” and has vowed to appeal the judge’s decision. Instead of addressing the real challenges of immigration and immigration reform, Governor Brewer plans to use limited state’s resources to legalize racial profiling by implementing S.B. 1070, which would subject Major League Baseball’s star players, their families, and their fans to discrimination and racial profiling. Several Major League Baseball players have already said they will not play in the 2011 All-Star game next year if it is held in Arizona.

Professional sports have a responsibility to the community to exercise leadership. The NCAA does not allow post-season events, such as the Final Four, to occur in states that fly the Confederate flag. The NFL moved the Super Bowl out of Arizona years ago when the state failed to recognize the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. Major League Baseball must adhere to the same standard.

Moving the All-Star game from Arizona sends a message to Arizona—and the 25 other states that are considering similar laws—that American’s do not support any form of intolerance, discrimination, or racial profiling.

Tell Bud Selig to step up to the plate and support the players and their fans by moving the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star game out of Arizona. Write Commissioner Selig and tell him that Major League Baseball should take a stand against bigotry and intolerance.

Subject:

Dear Mr. Selig,

(Edit Letter Below)

I am writing to ask you to move the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game from Phoenix, Arizona.

As you are aware, the Arizona legislature recently passed SB 1070, a bill that essentially sanctions racial profiling in that state.  In fact, many of your players, once off the field and out of uniform, could easily fall victim to this new law while in Arizona.  I hope that you recognize the law for what it is- a violation of our civil rights and of our most fundamental values as Americans.

What does this law have to do with baseball?  Baseball is a game that transcends barriers and brings America together, reminding us of what makes our country and this game unique:  our diversity.  It is in the best interest of baseball to maintain a welcome playing environment for its players and to support the millions of fans who are Latino, Asian, or of other ethnic minorities.

While baseball has often led the way in breaking down racial and ethnic barriers, other sports associations have set a precedent for action when discrimination and injustice intersect with sport:  the National Football League moved the 1993 Super Bowl from Arizona because the state refused to recognize the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the NCAA does not hold its Final Four event in any state that flies the Confederate flag.

Major League Baseball's Latino player and fan base continues to grow each year, and we ask you not to turn your back on us as this issue unfolds.  If the 2011 All-Star Game is played in Arizona, my family and I will boycott the event.  I am joining many civil rights, labor, faith, and social justice organizations around the country, including The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Council of La Raza, the NAACP, and others in calling on you to move the game.  Don't turn your back on your players and fans.  Move the game out of Arizona.  It's the right thing to do.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]