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Bill Russell's Daughter Urges Boycott Of Arizona

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon May 03, 2010 at 10:59:11 AM EST
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At Firedoglake, Karen Russell, the daughter of basketball all-time great and pioneer Bill Russell, urges a boycott of Arizona:

Happy that the Major League Baseball Player’s Association condemned Arizona’s misguided, mean-spirited new immigration law. Racial profiling is important to baseball, where 27% of the players are Latino. I urge the NFL, NHL and NBA unions and all the Major Leagues to join them.

[. . .] We all must work to end Juan Crow now. Let Commissioner Selig know how you feel. Ask him to Boycott Arizona and pull the All-Star Game[.]

Boycott Arizona!

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    Bill Russell's Daughter Urges Boycott Of Arizona | 22 comments (22 topical)

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    Sheriff Arpaio on MSNBC crowing about how (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by magster on Mon May 03, 2010 at 01:18:28 PM EST
    his posse arrested 105 people over the weekend, 75 of whom were illegal.  What about the other 30 people? US Citizens? Were they detained at gunpoint? How long were they detained?  

    If (none / 0) (#1)
    by lentinel on Mon May 03, 2010 at 11:07:34 AM EST
    the 2011 all-star game is allowed to be played in Arizona, I wouldn't be surprised if individual players refused to participate.

    Serious Question (none / 0) (#2)
    by oulawdog on Mon May 03, 2010 at 12:19:08 PM EST
    Having followed the debate here, and elsewhere, I have a serious question:

    It seems to me that in all the commentary and reaction (from both sides) there has been a blurring of the lines between legal immigration and illegal immigration, and I guess that Arizona law doesn't draw that line bright enough?

    U.S. Citizens (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by MKS on Mon May 03, 2010 at 12:28:08 PM EST
    who do not carry proper proof of citizenship face jail time....

    Cops can ask for someone's papers if after conducting a lawful stop (which can be done to enforce local ordinances,)if they have a resonable suspicion the person is here illegally.  This is, I believe, the formulation after the "fix."

    So, if a cop suspects you are violating an ordinance on watering your grass too much, you have a car on blocks in your front yard--a specific example cited by the statute's advocates, you jaywalk, or have violated some other local law, they can stop you and question you on your citizenship.  In reality, they can create a justification for stopping almost anyone.....

    Parent

    Boycott (none / 0) (#4)
    by oulawdog on Mon May 03, 2010 at 12:42:24 PM EST
    If that is the case, wouldn't a more effective "boycott" be to overwhelm the system with some coordinated civil disobedience?  Sort of like sending a letter to your credit card company with every payment knowing they have to log all communications and you can effectively bog down the collection system.  

    Parent
    Stop carrying ID? (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by MKS on Mon May 03, 2010 at 12:51:49 PM EST
    Talk in Spanish, don't carry ID, wear straw cowboy hats and cowboy boots....

    Do that and the boycott....

    I actually think the boycott would be the most effective.....There are a lot of Latino players in the MLB....And, there are so many who go to the Spring Training facilities....And all kinds of tournaments are held in those facilities for younger ball players during the Summer and Fall....

    I think loss of the All-Star game would be the single best blow to this discriminatory law....

    Parent

    All kinds of responses (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by christinep on Mon May 03, 2010 at 12:54:22 PM EST
    There have already been some civil disobedience actions. From my perspective, it is clear that $$$ are a component of this situation of statement and counter-statement. For example: The response of Texas Governor Perry--who, I recall, once teased about seceding and who is a favorite of Republican conservatives--indicated this past week that he did not support the Arizona approach--of course, a clue might be found in the historic landowner wealth distribution in that state (read: some Hispanic $$ there.) If $$$ are involved--say for big companies who hire illegal immigrants at cheap $ and for Arizona's tourism in general and for conventions/conference/other business meetings (see, e.g., Denver Public Schools disallowing business travel to Arizona) and, obviously, sports--then coordinated boycotts may well have the desired effect.

    Parent
    Good Luck... (none / 0) (#8)
    by ScottW714 on Mon May 03, 2010 at 02:06:34 PM EST
    ...with Bud Selig doing anything that even resembles morality.  If the players are waiting for him to make some grand gesture that doesn't benefit him in some material way, they had better be tested for pseudo-reality drugs (among others).

    I suspect (none / 0) (#9)
    by CoralGables on Mon May 03, 2010 at 04:44:02 PM EST
    any push to move the 2011 MLB All Star Game would likely have to be initiated by the players to be successful. The move to strip Arizona of the 1993 Super Bowl was pushed for by the NFL Players' Association.

    I would think an agreement by Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera, Chase Utley, and Albert Pujols to boycott the game would probably be more than enough for the league to step up and make a move. I feel comfortable that players of that caliber could pull a tremendous amount of weight without suffering any retribution.

    Parent

    Here's the first one (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Mon May 03, 2010 at 09:14:28 PM EST
    San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez has said he will not play the 2011 All Star game if the law goes into effect.

    Parent
    Tell you what, I was on the fence, (none / 0) (#10)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon May 03, 2010 at 04:48:47 PM EST
    but now that I hear that Bill Russel's daughter wants me to boycott AZ, heck, I'm all on board!

    feel-good stuff (none / 0) (#11)
    by diogenes on Mon May 03, 2010 at 05:09:25 PM EST
    Losing the all-star game has minimal economic impact.  Actually enforcing this law, if it ever happens, will have a huge economic impact if only by steering illegals into other states where the pickings are easier.  Sort of like what happens when you buy the Club and put it in your car--it doesn't cut down thefts, but it makes people steal other cars.
    Hey--if the Democrats want the 2010 Congressional platform to be "amnesty for all and open borders", be my guest.

    The economic impact (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by MKS on Mon May 03, 2010 at 06:01:44 PM EST
    of steering large numbers of Latinos away from Arizona would hurt its economy.

    The assumed fact is that Latinos give more than they take.  And, I don't think that is the case.  Latinos buy all kinds of goods and services and keep lots of businesses going.  They pay sales and property taxes....

    Be careful what you wish for....The business lobby, which is pretty good at gauging dollars and cents, is not so gung-ho on sending away large numbers of people who are already here.  Property values and rents will drop, as there will be lesser demand for such....

    You seem to believe Latinos are freeloaders, leeching off the system....What a stereotype....and it is wrong....but it has power, so it must strike some kind of chord--one of fear in uncertain economic times...

    Parent

    "Illegal alien Latinos" (none / 0) (#15)
    by diogenes on Tue May 04, 2010 at 08:20:42 PM EST
    In the economy of a severe recession, adding large amounts of mostly unskilled illegal aliens to an economy is a drain.  There isn't enough work in Arizona for the legal immigrants or locals.

    Parent
    There will be fewer (none / 0) (#16)
    by MKS on Wed May 05, 2010 at 01:08:49 PM EST
    new immigrants coming now....because of the bad economy, if for no other reason.

    But what of those already here....They buy a lot of things....

    Parent

    Are you thinking that (none / 0) (#17)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 05, 2010 at 01:13:09 PM EST
    1. Citizens or greencard holders would not buy a lot of things?

    2. Illegal immigrants with no jobs will buy a lot of things?


    Parent
    Easly solution for those concerned (none / 0) (#18)
    by MKS on Wed May 05, 2010 at 01:28:06 PM EST
    about those here illegally.  Give them all legal status.

    Somehow, I don't see the anti-illegal immigration folks going for that.

    How about giving green cards to all those here who have jobs?  I doubt that too....

    And I don't think there are going to be all that many illegal immigrants who do not have jobs....

    Show me the data that says that undoucmented workers are a net drain on our economy....I don't think it really exists...

    Parent

    You said they buy a lot of things. (none / 0) (#19)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 05, 2010 at 01:40:17 PM EST
    If citizens and greencard holders had the jobs that are being diverted to the illegal immigrants, the citizens and greencard holders would buy a lot of things too...


    Parent
    I doubt that happens too much (none / 0) (#21)
    by MKS on Wed May 05, 2010 at 02:16:56 PM EST
    It is just market forces....

    I thought you guys were all for an unregulated market....

    Or, just for it when you are the winners...

    Parent

    I guess that's the best way to end this convo. (none / 0) (#22)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 05, 2010 at 02:22:52 PM EST


    Parent
    The Silent Majority Speaks (none / 0) (#13)
    by diogenes on Mon May 03, 2010 at 08:28:55 PM EST
    The overwhelming majority of Americans think the country's immigration  policies need to be seriously overhauled. And despite protests against Arizona's stringent new immigration enforcement law, a majority of Americans support it, even though they say it may lead to racial profiling.
    These are the findings of the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

    True, (none / 0) (#20)
    by MKS on Wed May 05, 2010 at 02:14:55 PM EST
    And the "minority" will remember.  

    And some day in the near future, the majority will be majority no more...

    Parent

    Bill Russell's Daughter Urges Boycott Of Arizona | 22 comments (22 topical)

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