As protests against sweeping ICE raids continue throughout Los Angeles, the city’s most iconic sports franchise remains quiet. And for many Latino fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers, that silence has become deafening.
In the span of a week, the Dodgers have faced growing scrutiny from the media, players, and their fan base for failing to respond publicly to rising fear in the immigrant community. From a fan being denied entry for wearing a sarape scarf to a national anthem performance that defied the team’s wishes to ongoing protests unfolding just miles from Dodger Stadium, the disconnect between the team and its supporters has never felt wider.
Fan Denied Entry for Wearing a Sarape
On Saturday, Dodgers longtime fan Jonathan Reimer told Heavy that he was turned away at the stadium gates for wearing a traditional Mexican sarape scarf in solidarity with the Hispanic community. He says the exchange with security was blunt:
“The team doesn’t allow offensive material into the stadium.”
“It’s a sarape?!?“
“Exactly. It’s not the colors of either team, so it can’t come in.”
Jonathan, who says he has worn the same scarf to several games in the past, was forced to return it to his car. “To go from Joe Kelly at the White House in a Mariachi jacket to this,“ he wrote, “doesn’t feel right.”
His story went viral on social media, and after we contacted Jonathan, he was interviewed by NBC Los Angeles.
Anthem Singer Defies Team Wishes
The day after, Dodgers officials reportedly told singer and social media personality Nezza to perform the national anthem in English, but she sang it in Spanish anyway. She later confirmed the decision was intentional, saying she did it “para mi gente“ in response to the growing unrest in the city.
The YouTube star sang the Spanish version of the National Anthem called “El Perdon Estrellado.” The U.S. State Department officially commissioned it in 1945 as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy to strengthen ties with Latin America.
The Dodgers have declined to comment on the incident.
Media and Fans Take Notice
In a searing column for the Los Angeles Times, Dylan Hernández criticized the Dodgers for ignoring the anxiety and fear spreading through much of their fan base amid escalating immigration enforcement.
“The Dodgers boast that more than 40% of their fan base is Latino, but they can’t even be bothered to offer the shaken community any words of comfort,“ Hernández wrote.
Blake Williams of Dodger Blue echoed the sentiment, calling the team’s silence “a travesty.“ He noted the team had issued statements on international issues in the past. Still, he had nothing to say as ICE agents detained immigrants and profiled Latino citizens just miles from their stadium.
“The Dodgers wear Fernando Valenzuela’s number on their sleeves,“ Williams wrote. “But they cannot comment on Latinos being harassed and kidnapped in their community.”
Other Teams, Players Speak Up
Angel City FC and LAFC both issued public statements in solidarity with the community. Angel City players wore “Immigrant City Football Club“ shirts and released resources for those affected by ICE actions. Dodgers infielder Kiké Hernández also spoke out on Instagram:
“This is my second home, and I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused, and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and human rights.”
Former Dodgers star Adrian González added his voice: “What is happening is not just wrong, it is unconstitutional. Separating families without cause and profiling individuals due to skin color is not right. It needs to stop.”
White House Visit Sparks Deeper Criticism
The Dodgers’ silence comes just two months after the team visited the White House to celebrate their 2024 World Series title. The visit, led by President Donald Trump, drew immediate backlash from many Latino fans in Los Angeles. Boyle Heights Beat documented the mixed reaction: some fans saw it as tradition, while others said it felt like a betrayal.
“It stings a little bit to see the Dodgers going to the White House after knowing what this president is all about,“ said Joe Diaz, a Boyle Heights native.
Photos of Dodgers stars laughing and shaking hands with Trump were met with anger on social media, with fans pointing to Trump’s history of rhetoric against immigrants and Latin American countries. Others noted that the visit came just weeks after the Trump administration erased mention of Jackie Robinson from a military website—a symbolic slight to the very legacy the Dodgers claim to uphold.
The Dodgers’ marketing chief, Lon Rosen, told the Los Angeles Times they would not comment on anything related to the visit or the ICE raids: “We’re not going to comment on anything.”
Community Trust in Question
For many Dodgers fans, particularly Latino supporters who have passed down love of the team for generations, the silence is painful.
The Dodgers have long celebrated icons like Jackie Robinson and Fernando Valenzuela, symbols of equality and representation. But to fans like Jonathan, Nezza, and the thousands marching through downtown L.A. The question is no longer about heritage nights or bobblehead giveaways. It’s about whether the team will stand with the community it claims to represent.
So far, the Dodgers have chosen not to speak. However, their fans have begun speaking out on their behalf.
Dodgers Face Backlash Over Silence Amid Recent Events