Hundreds gather at Dodger Stadium to protest Arizona immigration law [Updated]

A mushrooming group of protesters against Arizona's immigration law grew to a few hundred at the entrance to Dodger Stadium on Monday evening as the L.A. team prepared to play the Diamondbacks.

Shouting "Boycott Arizona!" and carrying placards reading "Boycott Arizona Diamondbacks," among other slogans, the protesters sought to gain the attention of fans driving into the stadium to watch a three-game series opener against the Arizona team.

Swelling the ranks of protesters were more than 100 members of the Service Employees International Union.

"The Dodgers have the largest Latino fan base in the league," said Mike Garcia, president of the SEIU United Service Workers West. "We have historically supported them since their move here in 1958. Now we are asking them to take a stand for us -- take a stand against this mean-spirited legislation."

The Arizona law compels police there to check the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally.

[Updated at 6:10 p.m.: SEIU spokeswoman Hilda Delgado said the union had bought about 100 seats in the bleachers and planned to turn their backs when the first pitch went out and urged fans to do the same.]

Unlike other groups and municipalities that have been calling for various boycotts of Arizona businesses, the stadium protest was meant to be more educational, according to an organizer.

“We’re not going to stop them from attending the game,” said organizer John Morales. “They’ve already bought their tickets. We’re trying to make a connection between sports and politics.… The Diamondback team is not just from Arizona, the ownership has contributed to the Republican Party that has spearheaded the legislation.”

Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick, a substantial financial backer of Republican politicians, issued a statement in late April saying he shared the Major League Baseball Players Assn.’s concerns about the effect that the legislation could have on players and lamenting that “this whole situation is sad and disappointing for all of us who are associated with the Arizona Diamondbacks.”

-- Carla Hall at Dodgers Stadium

Photo: Lu Cruz was among those gathered Monday at Dodgers Stadium to protest Arizona's immigration law. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Bruce]

Wow hundreds of protesters. L.A. Times striving to make people believe that most people aren't in favor of the law.

[Yoga2010]

Hundreds. Wow. Big mushroom. Boycott Los Angeles until the city tends to its own business instead of minding others. I know I am.

[Grace]

SEIU is under investigation right now for threatening to report immigrant workers to the INS if they voted for a rival union. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125798836244044493.html

Perhaps in addition to protesting AZ's awful immigration law, SEIU should stop trying to threaten their own members with deportation simply for practicing their American right to vote.

[Miko Azzabara]

These clowns need to be ignored. No thoughtful U.S. citizen would back illegal immigration.

[gargamel]

Brilliant plan, SEIU. "Boycott" Arizona by buying 100 tickets to a Diamondbacks game. This whole thing is such a joke.

[Michael]

You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make it drink, these organizations are simply ignoring the fact that the majority of Americans support Arizona's attempt to get a grip on its illegal immigrant problem, the crime, and overcrowded schools, and the cost of the welfare parents. And I couldn't help but notice every SEIU spokesperson was Hispanic. that just reinforces my belief that its not about the law, which is not even respected in our southern neighbors own front yard. Laws, Rules, Regulations simply do not apply to them.

[Roger]

Why harass people going to a Memorial Day ball game?

Let's keep sports and politics separate. It's like the group protesting Phil Jackson. Pick your battles because the more "in your face" protesting you display the less it starts to matter.

Now when I hear about AZ protests I'm like, "Meh... There's another one."

[Estaban]

Protest, most Americans agree with Arizona. People don't want their cites to turn out like Los Angeles. Face it, LA is now a third world arm pit. Americans deserve better. The American people of LA deserve better. Quenno?

[DonJuan]

"SEIU spokeswoman Hilda Delgado said the union had bought about 100 seats in the bleachers and planned to turn their backs when the first pitch"

What a coincidence, Obama turns his back on enforcing federal law.

[Me]

I still find it completely baffling that you cover extraordinarily small gatherings like this one, yet refused to report on John & Ken's rally that drew thousands. I guess you only report on events that promote your agenda. Great journalism.

[Steven M.]

Where's the heck is INS or BCP, when you need them?

This isn't about immigration, it's about ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

Send these Illegals back and their "Anchor Babies," with them. Save the tears for those who are unemployed or those who pay taxes.

[dude]

First off, why is there a need to connect sports and politics? When I go to a sporting event, Politics are the last thing on my mind and as someone driving through these "protestors", I would be reluctant to support anything they say.

Second, I think it's funny how they still purchased tickets. I'm sure everyone there dropped their signs and ran up to take their seats as to not be late for the game! HAHA

I'm going to watch the news tonight and see what the outfield bleachers are looking like as the next couple of games may be the safest ones to go to.

[Korean vet]

They held a phone survey in Tuscon asking 20,000 voters if illegal aliens are draging Arizona down with their high crime rate. 14% said yes. 78% replied no comprende

[maandrews]

Illegal Aliens , Open Borders Advocates and their SEIU henchmen try their best to hijack the opinions of sports fans who like baseball and basketball . They are getting desperate now as they see Legal Citizens waking up to the invasion!
Go Arizona Diamondbacks!

[Michele]

Too many illegals in CA. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and have seen a gorgeous place turn into a cesspool of trash, grafitti, etc. There are more Hispanic & Asian gangs and lots more drug trafficking. Get it together California. Read the Constitution, oh you probably can't understand it. I don't live in LA anymore and my state is not inundated with illegals. Great for Arizona and the other 13 states that are going to impose similar laws. Maybe this will get tied up in courts for years and maybe by that time we will have a true American President with courage and guts to rid our nation of ALL illegals.

[Sal]

It is absolutely BIZARRE how the LA TIMES has such an obsession with trying to FORCE Americans to accept millions of illegal foreigners.

It ain't gonna happen. There will NEVER be another amnesty for tens of millions of Third World parasites. Go back to where you came from! We have sacrificed too much of our quality of life already.

[Hard to Believe]

It would be more appropriate to boycott Mexicans. They are the ones causing all the problems.

[CA latina americana]

People that are protesting are ridiculous. God forbid anyone try to do anything about how illegal immigration, drug smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping, beheading, gang violence, high-speed chases with drug dealers, etc. is affecting the quality of life for the citizens of our border states.

The fact that we have immigration laws does not mean that it is "broken" -- people just don't want to believe that anything at all is illegal anymore. Sorry, we do have laws and borders and we already accept something like 1 million legal immigrants per year. Get in line.

[erics]

Dodgers and Illegals go hand and hand!

[Chris]

Keep your stupid politics out of baseball. Morons.

[c moon]

Just like politics and religion has been separated the sport also should not be used as a tool for political reason. Good example is the Olympic game that Jimmie Carter boycotted. People who are using the sports are the lowest group of people in the society just like SEIU who has no business getting involved with immigration issue. Union was originally founded to protect the members but now they are being used for political reason and the members should rise against the manipulation of these union by the management. They do not realize that they are being used by these politically motivated management which has nothing to do with their welfare. Enough is enough, SEIU should just concentrate on their own welfare nothing else.,

[Lawrence W]

Hundreds out of how many people who live in Los Angeles? Hundreds of people protesting isn't worth the gas to get the photograph.

[Tom]

Tell those ethnocentric protesters that only 32% of the American public agree with them. Majority back Arizona.

The prestigious Pew Hispanic Center (Oh the irony) just came out with their own survey results concerning the Arizona immigration law.

59% approve of Arizona's law.
32% disapprove. (Ouch! Not even a third. )

73% approve of requiring people to produce documents verifying their legal status if police ask for them.
23% disapprove. (Ouch! Not even one quarter.)

67% approve of allowing police to detain anyone who cannot verify their legal status.
29% disapprove. (Ouch! Not even one third.)

62% approve of allowing police to question people they think may be in the country illegally.
35% disapprove. (Ouch!)

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28570

[pasadena jag]

Who cares? Most Americans think the Arizona law should be everywhere. The elite liberal media has ruined this country. You're lucky anyone takes the TIMES.

[Michael E Brown]

Oh Yeah, where are the 12 million illegals and why are they not marching....only the members of SEIU. The sooner this union is broken, the sooner this country can return to its original ideals. SEIU wants the illegals for their slave labor force......pay those dues while the union leadership live like fatcats in Hollywood. Shame on them!

Stop the unions!!! This is what brought Russia its Communism...workers make free....ask the 50 million killed by Stalin and the others how free they were.