Thread: Pro-immigration groups to protest Lakers (40People Update)

Published: May 17, 2010
Updated: 9:22 a.m.

Pro-immigration groups to protest Lakers

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Immigration activists plan to picket outside Monday's Lakers-Phoenix NBA playoff game at Staples Center because Lakers coach Phil Jackson declined to criticize Arizona's recently adopted illegal immigration law.

"Am I crazy, or am I the only one that heard when the legislators said that `we just took United States immigration law and adapted it to our state?"' Jackson said during his pregame news conference May 4.

Jackson made his comments in response to a question from ESPN.com columnist J.A. Adande about his thoughts on Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver having his team wear its "Los Suns" jerseys for their May 5 game partly in response to the law and partly because of the Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Jackson then asked Adande if his interpretation of the law was correct. Adande said Arizona "usurped the federal law."

Jackson disagreed, saying "it's not usurping, they just copied it, is what they said they did, the legislators. Then they give it some teeth to be able to enforce it."

SB 1070 empowers local law enforcement to check the immigration status of suspects they have stopped for other reasons if there is a reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally. The law specifically bars police from racial profiling.

Jackson sometimes makes inflammatory statements to get into the heads of opposing players and their fans during the playoffs, and some Suns fans have written to Arizona newspapers to express support for the Lakers because of his comments on the immigration issue.

It was unclear if that was a factor in his comments, which prompted the Mexican-American Political Association and Southern California Immigration Coalition to decide to picket Monday's game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Suns.

"We are not happy with the position that Phil Jackson took," Nativo Lopez, the national president of the Mexican-American Political Association said. "We want to call on Jackson and the Lakers to put on their Los Lakers jerseys, especially considering the tremendous support that the Lakers have enjoyed from the communities specifically targeted by the misguided and racist Arizona law."

The groups also "want to welcome Los Suns of Arizona and thank them for the symbolic support," Lopez said.

The Lakers will not wear their Los Lakers jerseys for any playoff games, John Black, their vice president of public relations, told City News Service. Black said he was not aware of anyone from the Laker organization being contacted by either group involved in the protest.

"We will not be getting involved in choosing sides among our many different support groups in any debate, nor will we be getting involved in political issues of this nature," Black said.

"Our focus and goal at this time is on basketball, winning games, and hopefully winning another championship, which we feel the vast majority of our fans want us to focus on."

Jackson made similar comments May 4.

"I don't think teams should get involved in the political stuff," Jackson said. "I think this one is still kind of coming out to balance as to how it is going to favorably looked upon by ... the public.

"If I heard right, the American people are really for stronger immigration laws, if I'm not mistaken. Where we stand as basketball teams, we should let that kind of play out and let the political end of that go where it's going to go."

A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press May 6-9 found that 59 percent of the 994 adults surveyed supported the Arizona law, while 32 percent disapproved.

The Lakers wore the Los Lakers jerseys for their March 21 game in connection with the NBA's "Noche Latina," program, part of the NBA's marketing efforts aimed at Latinos.

The activists plan informational picketing at 5 p.m. outside the ESPN Zone restaurant at the LA Live complex, before marching to protest in front of Staples Center.

Lopez said he understands those who want to avoid politicizing the best- of-seven series that will determine the Western Conference representatives in the NBA finals.

"My whole family is fanatical sports fans and say `Don't touch my team with anything that smacks of politics'," Lopez said. "But we're more worried about the people that are being victimized in Arizona."

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to join an economic boycott of Arizona.

"Grandstanding politicians in Los Angeles have jumped into our political business," Arizona Republic sports columnist Dan Bickley wrote in Sunday's edition.

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/jackso ... s-law.html

I stinking HATE the Lakers, but this is the first time that I will support them. Phil Jackson has my complete support. All I know is "Los Suns" better be knocked out of this round! Any team that would support law-breaking should be humiliated properly.

Amen Phil

all i can do is laugh

Jackson's stance sparks demonstration
Comments953
By Arash Markazi

LOS ANGELES -- An estimated 40 protesters gathered across the street from Staples Center before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns on Monday night to condemn Lakers coach Phil Jackson's refusal to criticize Arizona's new immigration law.

In comments made to ESPN.com's J.A. Adande on May 4 about state Senate Bill 1070, Jackson said, "Am I crazy, or am I the only one that heard [the legislature] say 'we just took the United States immigration law and adapted it to our state.'"

One protester's sign read, "Phil, say no to the racist AZ bill! Stand with the fans," while another read, "Dear Coach Phil Jackson, We [love] "Los" Lakers! Why do you support SB1070? Do we need our "papers" 2 C our team in AZ!?"

Prior to the game Jackson said the protest and sudden outcry to his comments were "quite a delayed reaction" before adding, "I don't think a sports organization should be involved in that kind of a situation, it's a loaded situation."

Some of the protesters, however, hadn't heard Jackson's comments.

"Phil Jackson went political and that's not his job," said Jose Maldonado from Montclair. "His job is not governor, his job is not president, his job is not political, his job is to be a coach. When he said what he did he went political and that's the reason I'm standing here, to protest his involvement."

Jackson, however, made it clear he didn't want to get involved in politics and initially said he didn't think teams should get involved in politics as the Suns did on May 5 when they wore jerseys that read "Los Suns" in Game 2 of their playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs. Suns players and owner Robert Sarver have spoken out against the bill.

"I don't think teams should get involved in the political stuff," Jackson said. "And I think this one's still kind of coming out to balance as to how it's going to be favorably looked upon by our public. If I heard it right the American people are really for stronger immigration laws, if I'm not mistaken.

"Where we stand as basketball teams, we should let that kind of play out and let the political end of that go where it's going to go."

Other protestors, however, believe it is the responsibility of people of influence, like Jackson, to use their platform to speak out against the bill as Steve Nash and many on the Suns have.

"The Suns took the high road and it is an issue sports can affect," said Pete Navarro, an attorney in Los Angeles. "Arizona was awarded the 1993 Super Bowl and they were one of the last states to declare Martin Luther King Day an official holiday and they put pressure on the NFL and they moved the Super Bowl from Tempe to Pasadena until they made it an official holiday so sports can affect politics."

The law, which is scheduled to take effect July 29, has triggered protests and prompted several cities to boycott Arizona businesses. Los Angeles is the largest of those cities.

While there were more LAPD officers around Staples Center before the game than protestors, many of those who were there hoped their presence would encourage Jackson and others to read the bill and take a stand against it.

"Phil Jackson is supposed to be such a thoughtful guy and I hope he would read that senate bill," Navarro said. "I've read that senate bill and it's horrible. The law is racist and he should know that."

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/n ... id=5195537