On the eve of the MLB All-Star game in Phoenix, many immigration support groups are reaching out to MLB to show support against the state's immigration initiative — a hot-button topic for over a year — but have come up empty handed.
USA Today reports a number of immigration support groups have asked MLB to show its disapproval of the law, either with small tactics (wearing white ribbons in support) or extreme ones (boycotting the game).
Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who will start for the American League in the All-Star game, has been a figure in the controversy after comments he made in 2010 after the legislation was passed. Gonzalez said that he would boycott the All-Star game if the location wasn't changed, yet he has backpedaled on those remarks and fully intends to play Tuesday night. Gonzalez — who was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico — says he will remain hush on the situation.
"What I said was misinterpreted," Gonzalez told USA Today. "Especially the way the question was asked. At the time, I didn't know much about the law. I still don't. It's not something I'm even going to get into."
Senate Bill 1070 allows local law enforcement to require any "reasonably suspicious" person to produce immigration papers.
