The signing into law of Arizona Senate Bill 1070 is not something we would normally cover here. But the bill - which requires police to check immigration status of those they encounter - has led to protests and calls for a boycott of the state from some writers, who believe the law will lead to racial profiling. Now, that boycott has been aimed specifically at the Diamondbacks.
Immigration Bill Leads To Diamondbacks Boycott Call
↵↵The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the top contributors to the Republican machine in Arizona that have unanimously voted for the draconian Arizona State Proposition SB1070... Now the immigrant community in Arizona, and beyond must act to target them in a national boycott against their team..
↵↵Without getting into a debate here on the politics [see this thread on AZ SnakePit for that discussion], it’ll be interesting to see whether this gains any traction. There’s certainly no denying the anger the bill has provoked - albeit some ill-informed - but will it translate into reduced attendance? A recent survey showed baseball fans skew somewhat Republican, a group who strongly support the bill. Maybe a call to boycott the Phoenix Mercury would have more impact; the study shows the WNBA as among the most Democrat-leaning sports.
↵Perhaps a bigger risk might be the MLB All-Star Game, scheduled for Phoenix next year. There is precedent, as Arizona had Super Bowl XXVII yanked by the NFL, after voters refused to approve an initiative to observe Martin Luther King Day. Said D-backs team president, Derrick Hall, “I’m concerned because we worked so hard to get it. We’d hate to see it go away if too much pressure is put on MLB, but the planning is well into motion and I think it would be difficult to back off at this point for 2011. My hope is that it won’t impact it in any way.”
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