The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting involved in the current events around their city, one day after those current events came to them.
The team pledged $1 million in direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by “recent events in the region” in partnership with the City of Los Angeles on Friday, while promising additional efforts in the coming days. The announcement was made one day after Department of Homeland Security agents used the Dodger Stadium parking lots as a staging area, without permission from the team, as part of an ongoing campaign to arrest immigrants throughout the city.
The Dodgers are responding to … something. (Photo by Zin Chiang/picture alliance via Getty Images)
(picture alliance via Getty Images)
Per a statement released by the team, the additional community efforts will include aid for the California Community Foundation and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor to “aid youth and families with food insecurity, basic essentials and mental health services.”
The Dodgers’ statement included quotes from both team president Stan Kasten and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass:
“What’s happening in Los Angeles has reverberated among thousands upon thousands of people, and we have heard the calls for us to take a leading role on behalf of those affected,” said Stan Kasten, President & CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers. “We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles.”
“I want to thank the Dodgers for leading with this action to support the immigrant community of Los Angeles,” said Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles. “These last weeks have sent shockwaves of fear rippling through every neighborhood and have had a direct impact on our economy. My message to all Angelenos is clear: We will stick together during this time and we will not turn our backs on one another — that’s what makes this the greatest city in the world.”
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The Dodgers were loathe to say what events they’re actually addressing, as the team has shown it is extremely hesitant to wade into any sort of controversial waters. Other teams — most notably Angel City and LAFC — spoke out days ago, while the Dodgers, who have one of the largest Latino fan bases in the United States, were criticized by some followers for their perceived silence.
The club was reported on Wednesday night to be working on a response to ICE’s activity in the city, which Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom have made very clear is not welcome. The announcement was originally planned for Thursday, but that changed after the federal agents showed up at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers initially announced that they had denied entry to ICE agents, but the DHS downplayed the incident as a quick stop unrelated to the team, while ICE denied they were ever there. Regardless of the identity of the actual agents, their vehicles were reportedly used at a raid at Home Depot in Hollywood that day, with one agent saying they were processing people who had been detained.
Protestors quickly arrived at the stadium as well, objecting to ICE’s alleged presence at an L.A. landmark.
Kasten said in a statement later Thursday that the team was delaying its announcement due to the incident.
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Manager Dave Roberts praised the team’s pledge later Friday, calling it the right thing to do via MLB.com’s Sarah Wexler:
“I think it’s great. I’m sure the money is going to be allocated in the right way. And I’m happy to hear that the Dodgers have done that, and it’s certainly the right thing to do.”
The Dodgers were pulled unwillingly into the matter of ICE’s presence earlier this week, when singer Nezza performed the national anthem with the official Spanish translation, commissioned by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, before a home game. In videos posted after the game, Nezza showed footage of a Dodgers employee telling her to sing in English and confirmed that she sang in Spanish as a way to show support for immigrants in the face of ICE.
Individual members of the Dodgers organization have spoken out as well. Veteran utility man Kiké Hernández said his community was being “violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart,” while former first baseman Adrian Gonzalez called the ICE raids “unconstitutional” and “illegal.”
