The Jackie Robinson West Little League saga continued Thursday as officials at the Illinois statehouse called for Little League International to reverse its decision to strip the young team of its championship title.
State Rep. Monique Davis presented a resolution urging Little League International to “rescind their decision,” and return the title to the little leaguers from Chicago’s South Side.
Davis also called for officials to “rigorously investigate all other little league teams.”
“These children deserve better,” she said, adding that league officials looked into allegations of residency violations by the team twice before and declared the investigation closed last year. “What changed between then and now in the finding of the Little League International? What happened? Why now after checking and double checking do they want to have them strip the title from this team?”
In her resolution, Davis called for officials to come to Chicago and speak to parents and players and to respond to requests from the team’s attorneys.
Davis echoed arguments made by many city leaders including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel when she argued that the young boys shouldn’t be punished for the alleged actions of adults.
“If the kids had used faulty bats, non-regulation equipment, balls that were inflated or deflated, then we could question their win and claim it was not on the merit,” she said. “Let’s let them remain to being the heroes that they are.”
Little League International has said before that its decision is final.
