Protest Racial Profiling at PNC Park
Pirate’s Vs Arizona Diamond Backs Sept 17, 18, 19
Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070 attempts to legalize racial profiling in the State of Arizona. As this article is being written, full implementation of SB 1070 is on hold while a law suit by the US Justice Department, claiming jurisdictional control by the Federal Government of boarder and immigration law proceeds through the courts. Regardless of the legal status of implementing HB 1070 – there will be a protest against racial profiling at PNC Park when the Arizona Diamond Backs play the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In the words of Pittsburgh area labor organizer Marc Mancini, As an advocate and supporter of human rights, especially workers' rights, I am appalled to see apartheid exist in America with regards to the Arizona law--HB 1070, which unconstitutionally advocates the use of racial profiling to detain undocumented workers..
Immigrant workers, documented or undocumented, are not the problem--the root of this injustice lies in the global socio-economic system that allows big business to exploit workers.
We are of only one race--the human race. We belong to only one country--the Earth. We are workers of the world! No to racial profiling! No to HB1070! Yes to solidarity with workers from all countries!
In Pittsburgh, we know the reality of racial profiling. It can be seen on the face of Jordan Miles in the pictures taken of him on January 13, 2011. Prosecute Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte and David Sisak to the fullest extent of the law!
As of July 31, the Pittsburgh Industrial Workers of the World, the Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance, and the Alliance for Police Accountability have endorsed this protest. Many other groups, like the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network and the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union have taken public positions in opposition to SB 1070. We are hopeful that everyone will use this opportunity to demonstrate their opposition to SB 1070 and show the world what we know about racial profiling here in Pittsburgh.
Move the All Star Game!
No to Racial Profiling on Roberto Clemente Bridge!
People in Pittsburgh should expect the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club to publicly advocate for the next year’s All Star Game to be moved until this law is overturned. The ownership of the Pirates and the ownership of the Diamond Backs are business partners – the Pirates should not abdicate a decision about the All Star Game to the Baseball Commissioner. This is your business Bucco! You cannot be silent while your business partner advocates for racists and discriminatory policies that criminalize Hispanic people. In the words of our adopted son Roberto Clemente,
“They say, ‘Roberto, you better keep your mouth shut because they will ship you back.’ [But] this is something that from the first day, I said to myself: ‘I am in the minority group. I am from the poor people. I represent the poor people. I represent the common people of America. So I am going to be treated like a human being. I don’t want to be treated like a Puerto Rican, or a black, or nothing like that. I want to be treated like any person that comes for a job.’”
Organizational meetings to finalize the list endorsers of this protest and plan a media strategy will occur during the first and second week of September. Please check the TMC eblasts for details or call Marc Mancini at 412-216-5839.
Material that explains the racist and discriminatory elements of HB 1070 are available from the ACLU and MOVETHEGAME.org.
Please check out the website of David Zirin www.EDGEOFSPORTS.org and check out his new book. His writing has pioneered these protests and set the high expectation that our sports are indeed OUR vehicle for social and economic justice.
