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KFWB sportscaster Brett Lewis is taking some heat from the immigrant community after yesterday apparently getting frustrated trying to pronounce Hiroki Kuroda's name. “Who are these people and how did they ever get in a Dodger’s uniform," he said.
Angelica Salas, the Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (one of the main organizers behind Saturday's May Day rally), caught wind of that. “We are shocked that Mr. Lewis, a veteran of radio news and not a stranger to Los Angeles’ multicultural makeup, can utter such dismissive and ignorant comments on the air," she said in a statement. "A fact Mr. Lewis should recall is that at least 26% of players in major league rosters are foreign-born and 40% of minor leaguers are foreign born."
She asked for a written and on-air apology in addition to recommending he enroll in a language intensive course and cultural sensitivity training so the next time a difficult name comes up "he is not faced with his own prejudice and ignorance.”
KFWB could not immediately be reached for comment.
