Dodgers Pledge Aid to L.A. Families Affected by Trump Crackdown
The announcement, while oblique on exactly which 'recent events' the team was responding to, came after days of calls from community leaders and fans to signal support for its heavily Latino fan base as federal immigration raids have been reported across the Los Angeles area. The raids over the past two weeks have stoked fear and anxiety among many immigrant families, especially Latinos.
While the team's announcement fell short of denouncing the federal immigration enforcement efforts, as some fans had hoped for, the Dodgers said more 'community efforts' would be shared soon.
'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,' Stan Kasten, the president and chief executive of the Dodgers, said in a statement on Friday. 'We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles.'
The Dodgers, last year's World Series champions and perennial contenders for a decade, carry weight nationally, but to walk through Dodger Stadium is to get a glimpse of how many Latino supporters make up the team's fan base.
Songs in Spanish blare over the ballpark's speakers in between innings. Restrooms are labeled in English and Spanish. Fans can opt for a Michelada over a regular ballpark beer.
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