Immigration activists gather outside Staples Center in response to comments by Lakers coach Phil Jackson. (KTLA News) |
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Lakers Immigration Protest
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LOS ANGELES -- About 40 immigration activists are rallied outside Staples Center during Monday night's NBA playoff game after Lakers coach Phil Jackson declined to criticize Arizona's recently adopted illegal immigration law.
The protestors conducted informational picketing outside the ESPN Zone restaurant at the LA Live complex, then marched to the adjacent Staples Center. They drew taunts from some counter-demonstrators, including one who criticized the activists for putting a swastika on an American flag.
The protest was peaceful and there were no arrests, Officer Karen Rayner said.
"We want to make sure that Phil Jackson understands that a lot of his fans are Latino and immigrant in Los Angeles," protest organizer Jason Zepeda told KTLA.
Jackson released this statement Monday morning:
"I've been involved in a number of progressive political issues over the years and I support those who stand up for their beliefs. It is what makes this country great. I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies. This was the message of my statement. I know others feel differently, even in the Lakers organization, but it was a personal statement. In this regard, it is my wish that this statement not be used by either side to rally activists."
In a pregame news conference on May 4, Jackson said, "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 was responding to a question by 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.
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's comments 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 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, Lakers spokesman John Black said.
He was unaware of anyone from the Lakers organization being contacted by either group.
"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 protestors conducted informational picketing outside the ESPN Zone restaurant at the LA Live complex, then marched to the adjacent Staples Center. They drew taunts from some counter-demonstrators, including one who criticized the activists for putting a swastika on an American flag.
The protest was peaceful and there were no arrests, Officer Karen Rayner said.
"We want to make sure that Phil Jackson understands that a lot of his fans are Latino and immigrant in Los Angeles," protest organizer Jason Zepeda told KTLA.
Jackson released this statement Monday morning:
"I've been involved in a number of progressive political issues over the years and I support those who stand up for their beliefs. It is what makes this country great. I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies. This was the message of my statement. I know others feel differently, even in the Lakers organization, but it was a personal statement. In this regard, it is my wish that this statement not be used by either side to rally activists."
In a pregame news conference on May 4, Jackson said, "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 was responding to a question by 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.
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's comments 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 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, Lakers spokesman John Black said.
He was unaware of anyone from the Lakers organization being contacted by either group.
"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.
