Coalition calls for MLB to address race relations ahead of All-Star game
CINCINNATI (Jeff Hirsh) -- A coalition of ministers and civil rights leaders wants Major League Baseball to help improve race relations in America. The group, calling itself the Coalition for a Just Hamilton County, is using the upcoming All-Star Game in Cincinnati as the hook for its request.Cincinnati will be in the national spotlight during the All-Star Game on July 14 and the days leading up to it. Signs for the big event have already been unveiled.The coalition says a lot things have been done well here in Cincinnati. That's highlighted by the Attorney General Loretta Lynch's visit Tuesday to discuss the city's improvements of relations between the community and police. The group says baseball set tone for civil rights progress with Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947 but now it's time for baseball to literally step up to the plate and do even more. "Baseball has a rich history in America, often taking the lead in inclusion and diversity. Baseball is a source of joy for children in every city," says Rev. Damon Lynch III. "Major League Baseball is an important piece of our social fabric and we ask that the leaders of Major League Baseball now stand with community citizens calling for fairness and justice for the citizens of Ohio and the rest of the nation."The coalition has specific requests. They'd like a meeting the MLB commissioner to discuss race relations, not just in Cincinnati but nationwide. They'd like players to be allowed to wear small tokens in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. They'd like to see race relations forums, where grass roots leaders would be able to discuss race related strategies with team owners. And they'd like a public statement of support that MLB stands with communities of color. The Coalition for a Just Hamilton County isn't calling for a boycott, or even a big demonstration. They just want to raise the issues of race relations. During the group's press conference a group tried to disrupt the event. Some of those involved are associated with white supremacist groups. Because those signs were potentially offensive, Local 12 blurred their messages in our video.
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