A coalition of groups representing immigrants and day laborers is asking the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to decline any invitation to visit the White House, assuming President Donald Trump extends one.
The Pasadena-based National Day Laborers Organizing Network on Wednesday launched an online petition with an open letter to the franchise. It had sent more than 5,600 letters as of Wednesday afternoon, well on the way to reaching its stated goal of 6,400.
The coalition is demanding the Dodgers skip the traditional ceremony at the White House over the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, which has seen daily raids across Southern California and other areas of the state and the U.S.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers have always been more than a baseball team – they’re part of the spirit of who we are as a city,” the letter begins. “The team represents our neighborhoods, our families, and our shared love for our diverse communities. But right now, our community, our city are under siege, we need them to stand with us, on the right side of history.”
At a press conference in Pasadena on Wednesday, organizers handed out posters reading “ICE out of L.A.” and spoke in front of a mural depicting late Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela, a native of Mexico, handcuffed by a federal immigration officer.
The tradition of baseball champions being honored at the White House dates back to the 1800s when President Andrew Johnson hosted two amateur championship teams. It became more formal and consistent in the 20th Century.
The Dodgers, who won their second straight title and ninth overall by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games on Saturday, visited Trump at the White House in April to celebrate their 2024 World Series victory over the New York Yankees.
“Ask the team to honor the unity, integrity and diversity they themselves represent,” the letter continues. “They cannot stay silent as our families and neighbors face violence, detention, and deportation.”
“By visiting a president who has used his power to harm the most vulnerable, the team would be turning its back on the very people who fill the stadiums, wear the jerseys, and give this team its heart.”
KTLA has reached out to the Dodgers for a response.
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