Civil Rights Groups Fight to Move 2011 MLB All-Star Game
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010Major League Baseball is finding itself faced with a difficult decision regarding next year’s All Star game. The game is currently scheduled to be held in Phoenix, Arizona, but a new immigration law was passed that has many civil rights groups questioning the location.
The new law, effective July 29, says that police are required to determine a person’s legal status, and would also require immigrants to have documentation on them that confirms their immigration status is the cause of the uproar. Many civil rights groups, politicians, and even the MLB Players Association have condemned the new law.
In the hopes of moving next year’s All Star Game, civil rights groups have been working diligently by creating websites, and collecting over 100,000 signatures from fans who are in favor of moving the game. In addition, last week over 150 people protested in Manhattan outside of the MLB headquarters. While politicians and multiple civil rights groups have been pressuring the MLB and commissioner Bud Selig to move the game, the players’ union has not.
A former executive for MLB spoke about the decision making process and he said, “With the ownership there, it puts Bud in a very difficult position. You have X amount of people for it, X amount of people against it; it’s just a tough position.”
As of now, the 2011 MLB All Star Game will be held at Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark) in Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday, July 12, 2011.
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