Immigration & SB 1070

Fans protest at Wrigley, ask Cubs to move spring training from Arizona

Posted May 14, 2010

Michael Truelsen
TucsonSentinel.com

wallyg/Flickr

Dozens of immigrant-rights supporters gathered outside Wrigley Field on Friday, calling on the Chicago Cubs to no longer hold spring training in Arizona.

"Cubs fans want a winning team and winners train in Florida," said Leone Bicchieri, 46, whose mother is a Mexican immigrant, told ChicagoBreakingNews.com. "We also want a team that shows it respects all players and fans."

The protesters, who marched before the Cubs game with the Pittsburgh Pirates, are upset with Arizona's new immigration law, SB 1070, that they believe encourages racial profiling. Supporters say the law will reduce border crime.

One of the 10 reasons listed on baseballfansforflorida.com says "The Arizona Law SB 1070 discriminates on the basis of 'reasonable suspicion.' This legalized racial profiling could result in Cubs players, their family, or fans getting picked up for leaving their ID in the hotel!"

But not all Cubs fans like the idea, according to ChicagoBreakingNews.com.

"That's crazy," said Henry Graham, a retired colonel and Cubs fan for nearly 70 years. "I think Arizona law is very reasonable for Arizona, but not for Chicago...The state has the perfect right to do something. I think people who want a boycott are crazy."

The protesters organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights asked fans headed to a Cubs-Pirates matinee Friday to sign a petition urging the Cubs to move from Mesa to Naples, Fla.