An Illinois legislator is calling for the Chicago White Sox to move their spring training camp out of Arizona.
State Sen. Martin Sandoval said Wednesday he objects to Arizona's new law requiring local police to enforce federal immigration laws saying it encourages racial profiling.
“I have been an avid White Sox fan all of my life and a State Senator who represents the heart of the Latino Community in Illinois,” Senator Sandoval said in a press release. “Although I bleed ‘Sox Black’, I cannot change the color of my skin for the State of Arizona.”
The Sox play in a stadium owned and partly subsidized by a state agency. Sandoval says he wouldn't want to keep spending taxpayers' money on a team that continues doing business in Arizona.
“I am calling on Jerry Reinsdorf to move the team’s Spring training from Arizona altogether unless and until Arizona modifies or repeals this terrible law. The White Sox are a tenant of the Illinois Sports Facility Authority that owns U.S. Cellular Field,” Sandoval's release read. “I believe the team has a special partnership with the State of Illinois and expect Mr. Reinsdorf to excise leadership commensurate with that special relationship.”
Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said that while he's received nasty letters over remarks he made last week against the Arizona law, he said Sandoval's proposal is too drastic.
"I don't have the right or the power to say I'm not going to Arizona. This is my job. I'm not going to lose my job because I don't agree with someone," said Guillen.
The Chicago Cubs also hold spring training in Arizona, but they have no financial ties to Illinois government.
Get Breaking SMS Alerts: Be the first to know when news breaks, and when weather changes dramatically.
News: Text CHIBREAKING to 622669
Weather: Text CHIWEATHER to 622669
