Cheers to “Los Suns” for Opposing Racist Arizona Law

This week, the NBA basketball team, the Phoenix Suns, wore their “Los Suns” jerseys in their playoff game against the San Antonio Spurs to oppose the Arizona racist anti-immigrant law that was passed last month. (See Revolution issue 200, “Oppose the Attack on Immigrants,” revcom.us/a/200/immigrants-en.html)

Suns’ General Manager Steve Kerr said, “It’s hard to imagine in this country that we have to produce papers.” Kerr also said, “It brings up images of Nazi Germany.”

Amar’e Stoudemire, star forward for the Suns, said, “It’s going to be great to wear Los Suns to let the Latin community know we’re behind them 100%.”

Fans came to the game in Phoenix carrying signs that stated “Los Fans” to support the team’s opposition to the law.

Etan Thomas, an anti-war NBA player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, told sports columnist Dave Zirin, “I think what the Phoenix Suns are doing is great. Misguided is a polite way to describe this new law signed by Gov. Jan Brewer. Not only is it a grant to racially profile but it is a violation of basic equal rights. What reason would the police have to suspect someone of being illegal if they simply see them driving down the street?”

In response to the anti-immigrant Arizona law, people are organizing a boycott of baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks, and there is a movement among baseball players to have the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game removed from Phoenix. It has been reported that San Diego Padres star first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, and Chicago White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillen, have said they will boycott the game if it is played in Phoenix as planned.

Cheers to all the professional athletes who are joining the resistance against this racist anti-immigrant law.

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