Demand Better Protests for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

July 26, 2010 Uncategorized 9

Protestors at the 2010 AllStar gamein Anaheim

Since the Major League Baseball All-Star game, this blog has taken a lot of flack for our (my) criticism of the protest at the game over the decision by Major League Baseball to play the 2011 game in Arizona.  We’ve been beaten up for criticizing the sheer numbers of protestors by OC Weekly, how much parking was, whether or not 100,000 signatures was significant or not, and questions regarding our support of the Dream Act students and comprehensive immigration reform.

The Register’s Dena Bunis wrote a story in the Register today that was then blogged about by Orange Juice. OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano left this comment on this post.

  1. Gustavo Arellano

Posted July 26, 2010 at 3:13 PM

No, the Register got its talking points from the Liberal OC!

Now I’m sure Gustavo meant this as some form of a joke, but perhaps he’s taking accuracy lessons from the publisher of the OJ blog.

The Monday before the All-Star game, the Los Angeles Times ran a story about the successful FanFest at the DisneyLand Resort. The story featured a terrific photo of Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero and his son, recreating a highlight from a previous World Series.  The paper never mentioned the Councilman in the story and never identified him as a Santa Ana council member (and I’m sure it’s a photo and a moment the Tinajero family will remember for quite some time).

As a member of the Santa Ana city council, Councilman Tinajero has spoken out against SB1070, Arizona’s controversial new anti-immigration law, and voted with other members of the Santa Ana city council to condemn it.  And since Councilman Tinajero is a big baseball fan (a season’s ticket holder ot the Angels), I wrote him to ask about the petition presented to Bud Selig, the protesters at the game and whether or not his attendance at the game might be considered counter to the efforts of the protesters.

“I was never approached or witnessed anyone asking for signatures (for the petition),” said Tinajero. “If someone had approached me then of course I would have signed it.  I don’t believe the game should be played in Arizona and that is why my family and I will not be attending Spring Training this year.”

Whe I asked about the protestors, whom I saw ringing the perimeter of the stadium and in force in front of the stadium, Councilman Tinajero said he didn’t see them.

“I didn’t hear people were protesting this year’s game,” he said.  “I spent a wonderful day with my son in fact it is a day he and I will remember forever.”

And I’ll add it was a day my son and I will remember forever too. The Councilman and I also agree that the Lobster Rolls were the bomb at the game.  Now Councilman Tinajero would certainly have gone to those protesters to show his support of their efforts.

 Now if someone like Councilman Tinajero, who has a well documented record of supporting immigration reform and being on the record against SB1070, didn’t see any Latinos protesting at the All-Star game and was unaware of the protest itself, it reinforces our position that the protest was poorly organized and had little impact.  Pretty it up all you want, but facts are facts.

And that’s not something we like at all because we believe in comprehensive immigration reform is something that needs to happen in this country.

9 Comments

  1. So was there a point to this post, other than name-checking your close and personal relationship with Councilman Tinajero? (We talk on the phone! We once ate lobster rolls at the same sports stadium!)

    And what’s the threshold at which the Liberal OC stops mocking people who have the heart to put themselves in the field for progressive causes? 500 people? 1,000 people? 20,000 fliers handed out? Ten cars on fire? One golden opportunity to write a glowing article about an establishment politician who is being all feisty and down with the people by attending said protest? (Bonus points if you can head the article with a picture of the politican talking into a bullhorn!)

  2. Sal Tinajero goes to the All Star baseball game while we are out front protesting? Did he buy those tickets or did someone give them to him? How can he afford to go to All Star games on a councilmans salary? Does he go often to baseball or sporting events? How can he do this to our people?

  3. Counciman Tinajero is a season’s ticket holder for the Angels and he told me he paid for his own ticket and hotdog. In addition to being a council member, he is a teacher and I believe his wife has a career as well which means they can likely afford the ticket. I have no idea how many sporting events he attends. I don’t see how attending the game is a slight to the protesters. 45,000 plus paid ticket holders vs. 50-75 protestors?

  5. Mr. Lauten,

    Let us know when you’ve arrived back on planet earth.

    The lack of security along every inch of the southern border predates the arrival of President Obama. Were you clamoring for George W. Bush’s impeachment on those same grounds? Did you call for President Reagan’s impeachment when he granted amnesty?

    In case you hadn’t noticed, workplace enforcement and deportation of illegals under Obama has actually risen. The flow of immigration is down dramatically, mostly owing to the poor economy. Crime stats in Arizona are being distorted by the Governess and her cohorts. You’ve got no room to complain.

    And I’m sorry, but suing Arizona is not an impeachable offense. Get a grip and reacquaint yourself with The Constitution.

      • Mr. Lautner,

        I did click on your link. And you can’t impeach a President because the DEGREE to which the southern border is secure is not to your liking. Really, where do you people get these absurd notions?

      • The conditions there might be the same in metro Detroit, in South Central LA, parts of Miami, the Bronx or Mattapan in Boston. The sign is a safety warning to motorists and is not treason and is not an impeachable offense. The sign is no worse than announcement at the airport by the TSA to report unattended bags and not to accept packages from strangers.

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