Continuing the Call to Boycott Baseball’s All Star Game in Phoenix

From MAPA:

PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY
AT 2:00 PM Chase Field Main Gate
 
Phoenix, AZ – Stepping up to the plate against the most powerful state elites and the opposition of economic interests that have successful manipulated the placement of the 2011 MLBA All-Stars Game in Arizona, home of AZ SB1070, the Boycott Commission of the Comités de Defensa del Barrio will hold a press conference today at 2:00 PM to denounce the immoral collusion driven by the private prison industry, and their lobbying arm the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in cahoots with AZ Senate President Russell Pearce (author of AZ SB1070) and law enforcement personalities across the state.

One of the identified financial backers in the scheme to produce a steady flow of inmates for the private prison industry via corrupt legislative ties such as those which produced AZ SB1070 and other copycat bills across the country is Ken Kendricks owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Another target of denunciation for the Boycott of the Huelga del Pueblo is MLB Commissioner of Baseball Allan H. (Bud) Selig.

“What kind of land that calls itself free, can deny the Spirit of Humanity?” said Tupac Enrique Acosta as the official report on the Community Impact of AZ SB1070 by the Boycott Commission of the Comités de Defensa del Barrio was being compiled for publication tomorrow Tuesday July 12, 2011 at 5:30 PM.

The press conference today is a continuation of a long series of Boycott actions at the national and international level going at least three years to Strike Out AZ SB1070. Another press conference is scheduled for Tuesday at 11:00 AM to receive solidarity delegations arriving in Phoenix for the peaceful protest and Boycott Picket at the All-Stars Game itself tomorrow.

Last year many baseball stars denounced Arizona’s racist law SB1070 and declared that they would boycott the All Star Game if SB1070 was not repealed, including star player Adrian Gonzalez. A year later, in spite of a partial injunction that came as a result of the federal lawsuit against SB1070, community members testify to the fact that the criminalization of the community is in fact in full effect and worsening.

. . .

Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana and the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) declare their unconditional support of Los Comites en Defensa del Barrio (Committees in Defense of the Barrio) and the call for a complete boycott of the Major League Baseball All-Stars Game to commence July 12, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Let it be known far and wide that a growing number of organizations throughout the country are following the direction of Los Comites en Defensa del Barrio, which has taken the lead in organizing the resistance to the increased repression and persecution of our families in the state of Arizona,” declared Nativo Lopez, National President of Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana and MAPA. He added, “We will not be dissuaded by political personalities, media commentators, and sports pundits or authors, and even some immigrant advocates, to align ourselves with a “boycott-lite” approach and only call on players and sympathizers to bear white ribbons in protest of SB1070 and the policies of Governor Jan Brewer. This would be tantamount to calling off the boycott of all things and events in Arizona until SB1070 is repealed, and this would be a betrayal to all the families and workers who are bearing the brunt of the repression on a daily basis.”

Lopez emphasized that the organizations on the ground and on the front-lines of the movement to repeal SB1070 and confront the daily persecution of workers and their families should be recognized and heeded, and not the politicians, political commentators, or even advocates from afar who have good distance from the repression.

Los Comites en Defensa del Barrio are convening a press conference today and tomorrow to continue their activities to encourage support for the MLB All-Stars Game boycott and to denounce collusion between Arizona Senator Russell Pearce (legislative author of SB1070) and the private prison industry and its lobbying arm, American Legislative Exchange Council.

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