News letter from NCLR today:

Dear Ken:

I'm sure you've heard all about Arizona's new anti-immigrant law, SB 1070. About how it essentially sanctions racial profiling as accepted police practice to address immigration issues. About how it will make Latinos suspect in their own communities, regardless of their immigration status. About how it goes against our nation's most deeply held principles of justice and equality. And about how it will open the door to discrimination for many of our favorite celebrities and athletes who find themselves in Arizona.

As you may also know, the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game is currently scheduled to take place in Arizona. What you may not know is that more than one in four MLB players are Latino, which means that SB 1070 puts hundreds of players, not to mention their families and fans, at risk. We must ask MLB to stand up for the Latino players and fans that support baseball and pull the 2011 All-Star Game from Arizona!

What can you do to help? This year, when you celebrate the Fourth of July and watch the 2010 all-star events, host your own event as part of the Boycott Intolerance Week of Action (July 4 - 13) where you can join with others across the country in protecting America's favorite pastime and asking MLB to move the 2011 All-Star Game out of Arizona!

Help us tell the MLB to change the place - not the face - of the 2011 All-Star Game. On our nation's birthday, uphold our commitment to diversity.

Register your event here, and we'll send you an instruction guide with all the information and materials you will need. It's simple, easy, and fun for the whole family to get involved. Your event will include the following activities:

• For the kids, draw pictures of your favorite MLB players or team.
• Write letters to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and your favorite team's general manager (with the letter template provided).
• Call Commissioner Selig and ask him to move the game.

Celebrate Independence Day the right way. Stand up for American values, and stand up against intolerance.

Sincerely,

Ellie Klerlein
Associate Director, National Campaigns

My response:

Ellie-

Respectfully this bill as well as others that are being created in many of our states are NOT "Anti Immigrant" bills, your choice of words makes them appear this way but it is far from the actual language of these bills. The Arizona bill specifically states it will not allow for any discrimination by law enforcement agencies and goes far further than any current law to ensure this won't happen.

I respect your "Opinion" on this but you should be factual, this law is not in effect and it is the function of the legal system to qualify it legal or illegal as a matter of law and the justice system we have here in this country. No place in this bill does it say anything about "Latinos", this form of "Hate Mongering" by NCLR is unacceptable in today's environment where we try to teach tolerance and understanding. If your group feels it is necessary to challenge the law, do it in the legal court system, not in the public court of "Opinion" that only makes those against your group stronger and will give you more resistance to any form of allowing "Undocumented Travelers" any form of citizenship in the future.

As for doing any sort of "Boycott" to Arizona, remember if you boycott Arizona you are really hurting many of those who your organization wishes to actually support monetarily.

I know of hundreds and hundreds of people including myself who have or are planning to visit Arizona and spend TONS of our CALIFORNIA $$$$ to support the economy there and to support this great bill.

Respectfully,
Ken Dreger