A Milwaukee Brewers fan lost her job and a spot on the board after social media posts showed her going to call “ICE” on a Latino Dodgers fan during a playoff game.
Tensions have flared in recent months as the Trump administration's immigration raids swept the country. Now, mentions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement have even reached America's pastime.
Video of the encounter captured Shannon Kobylarczyk, dressed in yellow and navy blue Brewers gear, during the playoffs game in Milwaukee Tuesday night yelling at a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, Ricardo Fosado, who filmed the incident. The independent contacted a number associated with Kobylarczyk for comment.
“Why is everyone quiet?” Fosado said in the video, looking out at a crowd of silent Brewers fans. The group was earlier loud and cheering when the Brewers were ahead, but later became quiet as Dodgers started winning, Fosado told Fox6.
Kobylarczyk then looked at Fosado and shouted: “Real men drink beer, p***y!”
A Brewers fan lost her job after suggesting she “call ICE” to a Latino Dodgers fan during a playoff game (Courtesy of Ricardo Fosado)
She then tapped the man in front of her and said, “You know what, let's call ICE.”
Fosado responded, “Call ICE. Call ICE. I'm a US citizen, war veteran, baby girl. War veteran, two wars. ICE won't hurt me. Good luck.”
He is a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent and served in the U.S. Navy from 2001 to 2005. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Kobylarczyk later reported him to stadium security and he was escorted out of the building, he told the outlet.
The incident cost Kobylarczyk her job and board seat.
She worked as an attorney at ManPowerGroup, a staffing agency, according to the State Bar of Wisconsin and her LinkedIn page, which has since been deleted.
“As soon as we became aware of this video, the individual was immediately placed on leave and we initiated an investigation. As a result of this process, the employee is no longer with the organization. We remain committed to maintaining a culture based on respect, integrity and responsibility,” ManpowerGroup responded on an Instagram video of the incident.
She also served on the board of directors of Make-a-Wish Wisconsin, WebArchive records show. Make-A-Wish Wisconsin narrated The independent that she resigned from the board “with immediate effect” on Wednesday.
There were comments all evening about what was going on in the high-stakes game from both sides of the fans, Fosado told the Sentinel Magazine. “That's baseball, it wasn't disrespectful,” he said.
He admitted that alcohol may have contributed to her ICE comments and expressed his condolences for her.
“I don't think it was horrible or anything that should get her fired. I feel sorry for her,” Fosado told the outlet. “We can't be judged on one mistake and there were a lot of emotions involved. It was just hurt feelings, no one physically hurt anyone.”
The independent has contacted the Milwaukee Brewers for comment.
