I’m happy for the Dodgers and our city. I’m angry that lack of leadership is causing our community pain

I write this first as an immigrant who immigrated to Los Angeles and has grown up in various movements to improve the lives of my people and those I am in community with. I believe in the power of words, of nuisance, but also the importance of knowing that some things are simpler than others: our immigrant community is under attack and that the Dodgers can and should stand with immigrants. The visceral criticism from both sides of this conversation, however, needs to stop too. 

Being a fan of the Dodgers isn’t being a fan of the ownership or supporting everything a corporation is doing, but there is still a need for accountability towards this corporation. If a boycott didn’t work this season, we must come together to re-strategize and see how we can hold the leadership and owners accountable. 

I remember before the age of social media, political discourse was happening and I saw it because I’ve beenin these advocacy and movement coalitions, organizations and spaces since I was a child. The act of calling out each other was deeply personal, and it was never ever easy or simple. But the form of isolation happening right now is what is deeply concerning and may leave marks on our people here in Los Angeles. 

If you’ve ever canvassed, done phone banks or supported labor unions before 2025, before the pandemic, and even most recently, you will know Los Angeles is deeply complex and diverse. I’ve knocked on hundreds of doors, have interviewed people from all over L.A. County: no one is the same or stands perfectly for everything. 

Which makes me ask, have critics and Dodger fans actually had a conversation? 

There is a term in transformative justice work that says, “isolation cannot heal isolation.”It means that true, genuine healing can only be done in community and connection, community engagement and communication, rather than the enforced separation of conventional justice systems or self-imposed withdrawal. Our Latino community needs healing and true discourse within itself. 

What I am seeing from friends, colleagues and strangers across the internet is a forceful, vengeful form of isolation and separation. Critics of Dodger fans are directly calling out people who are celebrating this win, and lifelong Dodger fans are clapping back for being called ICE supporters. 

Our immigrant rights organizations in our region are deeply overworked and understaffed. We have non-immigration attorneys doing pro bono and nonprofits working on ICE tracking and legal defense around the clock. Which brings me to a critical point: multiple people are pushing various points, graphics and conversations; who is going to host an actual conversation? Who will organize the needed steps to get corporate accountability?

As a writer, an immigrant writer at that, it's my duty to try and articulate a moment. To stand for something and use whatever skills I have to put thoughts together. 

Do I feel guilty for being happy over the Dodgers? Of course I do! 

Do I feel defensive when people call me a sellout or challenge where I stand? Most definitely.  

I hope these words can at least start a conversation with folks on both sides. I want to be a part of it. I want to know how we can actually come together during these times. 

We need a true community now more than ever. 

Maybe having critics and Dodger fans together in support of one petition will work; maybe a true conversation between both sides will be the answer. I just know the attacks on each other online will only isolate us more.