Carlos Santana: Shame On You Georgia And Arizona

What do you do if you’re an iconic rock star and have the attention of a filled-to-capacity baseball park where you’re being honored with a “Beacon of change” award?

If you’re Carlos Santana, and the park in question is Turner Field, in Atlanta, Georgia, you say:

“The people of Arizona, and the people of Atlanta, Georgia, you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

That’s according to a report in Politico.com. The event was the annual Civil Rights Game, and it came only days after Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed an immigration bill into law that mimics Arizona’s controversial SB1070.

So they gave Carlos his award, and the microphone.

“It’s a cruel law, actually,” he said.

“This is about fear. Stop shucking and jiving. People are afraid we’re going to steal your job. No we aren’t. You’re not going to change sheets and clean toilets,” he said.

“If people want the immigration laws to keep passing, then everybody should get out and leave the American Indians here,” he said.

Santana immigrated to the United States in the 1960’s.

Other attendees who also received awards that day were Baseball Hall of Famers Hank AAron, Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks, singer Harry Belafonte, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson and actor Morgan Freeman.

[Photo by congahead]