Activists protest Lakers Coach Phil Jackson's comments on Arizona's new immigration law

 Activists outraged at comments made by Lakers Coach Phil Jackson that seem to back Arizona’s controversial new immigration law plan to rally outside Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles before Monday’s playoff opener against the Phoenix Suns.

“The way we look at it, Phil Jackson is supporting the Arizona law,” said Mario Gonzalez, a longtime Lakers fan and rally organizer. “That’s surprising. It caught us off guard. We want to find out where the team stands on the law.”

John Black, the Lakers' vice president for public relations, did not respond to telephone messages seeking comment.

Sparking the furor are remarks made by Jackson to ESPN.com columnist J.A. Adande in which the Lakers coach seems to back the incendiary Arizona law, which allows local police to check citizens documents and arrest them if they don't have them.

“Am I crazy, or am I the only one that heard [the legislature] say, ‘We just took the United States immigration law and adopted it to our state?’” Jackson said of the Arizona statute.

The Lakers coach then disputed the columnist’s assertion that Arizona legislatures had “usurped” federal immigration law -- an allegation widely made by critics who say the law could lead to racial profiling of Latinos.

Supporters say the state law complements federal statutes and deny any intent to target Latinos.

“It’s not usurping” federal law, Jackson replied, adding that the Arizona lawmakers “gave it some teeth to be able to enforce it.”

Jackson, long known as a free spirit who in Adande’s words “has showed lefty leanings in the past,” also seems to chastise the Suns’ management for its criticism of the Arizona law.

The Suns’ owner and several players have publicly criticized the statute.

“I don’t think teams should get involved in the political stuff,” Jackson told the ESPN.com columnist. “If I heard it right, the American people are really for stronger immigration laws, if I’m not mistaken. Where we stand as basketball teams, we should let that kind of play out and let the political end of that go where it’s going to go.”

Gonzalez, the protest organizer, said Monday’s rally was not meant as a call to boycott the Lakers or root against the L.A. squad in its push to repeat as league champions. Rather, he said, the action is aimed at condemning Jackson’s apparent support for the Arizona law and clarifying Lakers management’s opinion on the matter.

“We want to know the team and Phil Jackson’s opinion on the law,” Gonzalez said.

Supporters of the rally said they wanted to give Jackson and the Lakers the opportunity to clarify their position on the Arizona law. Activists voiced the hope that both the Lakers and Jackson would follow the Suns’ example and come out against Arizona’s plan.

“We want to give Phil Jackson the benefit of the doubt,” said Nativo Lopez, head of the Mexican American Political Assn. “There are nuances here that Phil Jackson perhaps is not familiar with. He’s an expert at basketball but not at immigration law.”

-- Patrick J. McDonnell

Photos: KTLA News; L.A. Times file

Comments

[REG]

I'm Hispanic American and I absolutely agree with Phil Jackson. The people of America want our immigration laws enforced.

[John]

These idiots! Phil is entitled to have a personal opinion, whether you agree or not. I actually agree that sports team should stay out of the political arena. Team management DOES NOT need to come out and clarify their position on Arizona Law. This is basketball damn it! Lets just get to the game. BTW I'm an American citizen of Mexican descent & yes if you dont have proof to legally be here, bye!

[Noseph]

This is a non-issue. Jackson is a basketball coach and should stay out of non basketball issues. He (like many people on this page)doesn't know enough about the issue to make an informative public statement about it. By doing so he puts his organization in an awkward position. Only the federal government has the right to implement legislation towards immigration.

For those people who are so called Americans, fighting the anti-socialist agenda, you should be outraged. You have someone going against your Constitutional rights. Oh wait, that only applies if it's something your facist leaders tell you to fear.

Remember kids, ignorance is not an opinion. Do your homework.

[I LOVE LA]

Got papers? :)

[John Q Citizen]

Picking political sides is business suicide eventually. The Phoenix Suns won't see the blowback to their "Los Suns" immediately.

Politically correct sports teams may get it right when pandering to a specific demographic.... then again, maybe they won't.

If they stay in the middle, they're god, no matter what happens.

When they pick sides, the way the pendulum swings, over time they'll eventually piss off everybody.

Sports teams would be well advised to stay clear of political stunts like the "Los Suns" overt pandering scam.

As a team owner or manager, you have to ask yourself, once I start down this slippery slope of picking political sides, how long will it be before it comes back to bite me?

Phil's right, the Suns last week were wrong.

[Not Afraid]

If we are here legally, then we should not be afraid of the Arizona immigration law. The law does not state that it applies to one race. Yet, it seems like the majority of the protesters are of the same race. Wonder why?

[The Last Straw]

Why don't we boycott Mexico instead of our own legal citizens. Boycotting Arizona sends a message to the illegals that California supports them being here illegally. Phil Jackson is only doing what he is entitled to do as an AMERICAN CITIZEN. As for me I will not venture into the Los Angeles city limits and spend one penny in supporting the mayor,city council or the people who live their and are following the advice of that idiot mayor.

[Nero's Fiddle]

Hey NEIL S, what will you have to say when this law is ultimately upheld, which it will be?

[jHON dOE]

Why don't they just make it mandatory for all citizens of America to have proof

of citizen ship with there drivers license and insurance and registration. It

would really help everybody just get along and stop with all the racism.

Because all Americans will need proof. even if your WHITE, BLACK, ASIAN, MEXICAN, GERMAN, ENGLISH, AUSTRALIAN OR CANADIAN.

[Santa Clarita Josh]

I agree with Phil! Leave the Lakers out of this. Who cares were the Lakers stand on this issue, it has nothing to do with basketball!!!

[Jack]

Phil is doing the right thing GO THE LAKERS don't ever fold under for a bunch of LAW BREAKERS and ILLEGALS are law breakers just getting here.

[Al Bondigas]

Protesting is a waste of time. Especially when the AZ law gets thrown out in the courts LOL

[Juan]

Nativo Lopez gives mexicans a man name! Google his name and SAUSD and see why he was kicked out. This guy is a fraud.

[Juan]

I think ALL tax paying Americans should Boycott and stop paying State & Federal taxes. Let's work under the table like illegals. I also want all the hand outs, free services and not have to pay for it.

[Reality]

Yes, Phil, the American people by a large margin (2 to 1) support the Arizona law. It is interesting that Nativo (real name "Larry") Lopez, who is currently standing trial for voter fraud, is behind this protest.

I got a little of Adande's liberal agenda when he was a Los Angeles Times sportswriter. He should quit his job and go to work for Obama.

[Juan]

All Tax Paying Americans Let's Boycott Paying State & Federal Tax and work under the table like illegals. We should also suck up all the free services like healthcare and education. The illegals are taking jobs away from working class Americans from ALL backgrounds. If you don't like our Laws go back from where you came from.
Go Lakers!

[Aaron]

People really need to pay attention to what other people say. Phil Jackson said he thinks basketball and political stances should be seperate. He did not say whether he does or does not support the law and he will not. He has already said that he feels that sports and politics dont mix in his opinion. He ssaid it appears that people in Arizona support the law. He said its a copy of the federal law. That was all and now everybody on both sides are making dumb assumptions. I wish people would stop trying to start trouble for anybody who doesnt say they agree with them. THIS IS JUST STUPID!!! lEAVE THE LAKERS AND OUR COACH ALONE!!!!

[Robert Jones]

Just a way to get attention for this group of winers!!! The only people worried about this law are the people here illegally!!! I am half mexican and I support the Arizona law. If you are a legal citizen then you would have no problem showing proof that you are entitled to be here if you are stopped by the police. Viva Arizona!!! Finally a state with a sack. More states should follow suit... One more thing, this is the United States of America. The national language is English. I say we boycott the companies that make you push 1 for English. Spanish should be banned from being spoken along with all the other languages from immagrants. If you are too lazy to learn English then go back to where you came from!!! How long would I last in good old Mexico if I didn't speak Spanish? I think not long at all...

[Wow]

Wow, this is the first time I have ever agreed with anything Phil Jackson has said or done. Shame on him for making me like him a little.

[Alex Trillo]

Jackson contradicts himself by saying Arizona just adopted federal law when he adds, "they just gave it some teeth." The pearly whites he refers to represent the added method of enforcement that pushes the law beyond the federal version and into racist activity (i.e. profiling). And if Jackson chooses to A) support the Arizona actions, and B) ignore the racist consequences, then he's guilty of perpetuating racism, too.

I hope he uses this benefit of the doubt wisely.

[MOMBO]

This is a response to LA City Council voting to boycott Arizona over it's tough new immigration law SB 1070:

I am calling for an economic and tourism boycott of the 3rd world ghetto cesspool of LA. I cannot think of any positives to come out of an economic boycott of Arizona. Most folks would rather visit the famous and beautiful redrock scenery of Arizona than visit the nasty, smoggy, hot, muggy, traffic- choked, 3rd world graffiti-ed ghetto cesspool of LA. I have called from my twitter and facebook accounts for summer tourism boycotts of the illegal-alien haven, loonyville leftist cities of LA and San Francisco.

[Socal74]

I think Phil Jackson is great basketball coach maybe the best ever. But I can careless about his politics.

GO LAKERS!

AZ SUX!

[Gary Rodriguez]

As a longtime Arizonan, I hope the Lakers CRUSH the lowly suns in every game. Phil Jackson is a great man for speaking out with the majority of intelligent Americans who support our great state of Arizona in its effort to combat crime. I hope los suns end up "Los Last" every year, from here to eternity.

[MOMBO]

The LA City council by voting for am Arizona boycott just sided with the Mex drug cartel murderous gangs who are rampaging throughout Arizona and Phoenix. I never knew till this vote that we have traitorous LA City Council members who openly side with vicious drug cartel murderous gangstas who Mutilate,maim, kidnap, rape, dismember & murder their victims, regularly shoot at and kill Arizona peace officers and border agents, who trash the environment, and in general were turning Phoenix into another Ciudad Juarez

Maybe the traitorous LA City council members are getting cartel drug funny money laundered as campaign contributions. There may be 1000's of human & drug smuggling houses located in the gangland ghettos districts of these corrupt council members , which are given the green light to operate freely and in return some of that Cartel funny money is transmitted to council members campaign coffers via ' precinct workers.

[jen]

I'm not for the Arizona immigration law, but come on! It's a sporting event! Keep sports and politics separate! This is just beyond...well, dumb, for a lack of better words.