Large crowds convened outside Dodger Stadium’s entrance on a recent Saturday afternoon. Their point of contention was based on the team’s perceived insufficient commitment to Hispanic and immigrant causes in the midst of continual immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles. Among the crowd were numerous heartbroken self-identified lifelong fans, who sported Dodgers attire, expressing dissatisfaction with their beloved team.
At the same time, a group of protesters expressed disapproval of the ICE operations and the overarching policies of the Trump administration. The demonstration took place a couple of days after Customs and Border Protection personnel were denied access to the team’s parking lots by team officials. The Dodgers had announced the preceding Friday about a $1 million commitment towards supporting the families distressed by recent immigration controls and militarized operations in the city.
Protesters displayed placards with ‘No ICE in LA’ slogans. Over the past month, immigration enforcement operations have triggered a series of similar protests throughout Los Angeles and other parts of the country. The protest at the Dodgers stadium kicked off around 2 p.m., a solid five hours ahead of the Saturday evening game against the Washington Nationals.
The demonstration took place against the backdrop of supporting cars persistently honking and the steadily soaring afternoon heat. Dodgers organization did not provide a statement when approached for comments about the protest or the issues brought forth by it. However, team president Stan Kasten, in a recent announcement about the team’s financial contribution to the immigrant families, said: ‘In response to the urging for us to spearhead the cause of those impacted, we are pledging our resources and action, intending to consistently support and uplift the Greater Los Angeles communities.’
Yet, several demonstrators on Saturday argued the response from the team remains insufficient both in terms of monetary commitment and assertiveness to tackle the immigration enforcement operations. As the afternoon wore on, the number of protesters increased, with hundreds of them standing along Sunset Boulevard at the intersection of Vin Scully Avenue. This intersection is positioned so that almost all vehicles entering Dodger Stadium’s main gate must drive past it.
Apart from a brief moment when the visiting team’s buses arrived accompanied by a motorcade, law enforcement was infrequently noticeable. That said, the number of police personnel at the stadium entrances clearly was amped up. Despite the circumstances, the protest stayed non-violent.
As for the Dodgers’ organization, their initial response to the ICE operations was one of non-comment. It was much later when they announced the decision to offer $1 million in assistance to the affected families. Many Dodgers’ fans voiced that this was dissatisfactory.
So far, the only official from the Dodgers organization to openly denounce the enforcement deportations is utility man Kiké Hernandez. In an Instagram post, he expressed his gratitude for being accepted by the city: ‘Although not native, Los Angeles has embraced me as one of its own. The disheartening and infuriating ongoing happenings in our country and city are distressing. The warmth, support, and hospitality I received from the fans in Los Angeles have moved me. This city has become my second home. Seeing our communities violated, profiled, manhandled, and torn apart is unbearable. Everyone deserves respect, dignity, and human rights. #CityOfImmigrants.’
This sentiment was welcomed by the protesters, but they wished for a similar show of support from the Dodgers at an organizational level. Numerous community leaders shared this sentiment, with over 50 of them endorsing a petition sent to the Dodgers, calling upon them to increase their involvement. A key demand from these leaders was that the team should publicly call for an end to the ICE raids.
Though the Dodgers are yet to make such a statement, the group that spearheaded this petition acknowledged the team’s financial pledge as a step in the right direction. A community leader mentioned, ‘The Dodgers’ commitment to providing tangible support to immigrant families is a significant move towards appeasing our community’s fears.’
‘They are exemplifying the importance of moral courage and civic leadership in Los Angeles. Using the power of love, we can mend the scars left by hatred. We hope this is just the onset — dignity requires more than mere silence, and our faith prompts us to take action.’
Despite these efforts, many fans remain unimpressed by the team’s stand. One fan, who identified as a first-generation immigrant and a lifelong Dodgers supporter, expressed his disappointment: ‘I’ve supported the Dodgers all my life. If there was ever a time we needed them to step in and make a difference, it’s now. We need them to rise to the occasion.’