BONUS: The Youth Baseball Coach Who Fended Off ICE

Summary

Podcast Summary: "BONUS: The Youth Baseball Coach Who Fended Off ICE"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
• Host/Author: MSNBC
• Episode: BONUS: The Youth Baseball Coach Who Fended Off ICE
• Release Date: July 15, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling bonus episode of The Best People with Nicolle Wallace, host Nicolle Wallace delves into a gripping story of courage and constitutional advocacy. The episode spotlights Yuman Wilder, a dedicated youth baseball coach, whose brave actions during an unexpected encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have resonated deeply within the community.

The Incident: Confronting ICE at the Baseball Practice

The episode opens with Kevin Blackistone setting the stage for Yuman Wilder’s pivotal moment:

Kevin Blackistone [00:51]: "What would you do if you saw someone who you thought was being confronted by ICE...?"

Wilder recounts the unsettling experience where ICE agents approached his youth baseball practice on Manhattan's Upper West Side:

Yuman Wilder [03:38]: "I told my kids to walk to the back of the cages right here. And I said, they're going to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights... they have a 14th Amendment entitlement to live here."

Despite the tense situation, Wilder took a stand to protect his players, emphasizing their constitutional rights. He confronted the agents, reminding them of the legal protections afforded to his predominantly African American and Latino young athletes.

Response and Aftermath

Following the incident, Wilder faced significant consequences. He had to relocate his practice sessions to safeguard his students, leading to a dramatic drop in attendance:

Yuman Wilder [09:37]: "We usually carry between 20 and 25 kids... only two have returned to practice so far."

The emotional toll on the community was palpable, with many parents and children feeling shaken by the encounter. Wilder's actions, however, served as a beacon of resistance against what he perceives as authoritarian overreach.

Broader Implications: The Intersection of Sports and Politics

The discussion transitions to the broader implications of ICE's presence in public spaces, particularly within community sports:

Yuman Wilder [07:30]: "Our academy has been around for 22 years... If it can happen on the Upper West Side of 72nd street, it can happen to anybody."

Wilder underscores the necessity of civic education, advocating for a deeper understanding of constitutional rights among youth to empower them against potential governmental overreach.

Critique of Major League Baseball

Addressing the role of established sports institutions, Wilder expresses disappointment with Major League Baseball's response to such incidents:

Yuman Wilder [12:24]: "Major League Baseball has disappointed the African American community so much that just the action for anything is irrelevant."

He criticizes MLB for not actively supporting players or standing against actions that threaten the inclusivity and safety of minority communities within the sport.

Community Recommendations: Empowerment Through Education

Wilder emphasizes the importance of educating young people about their rights as a foundation for community resilience:

Yuman Wilder [13:09]: "We have to have people who understand the Constitution... who can defend people's Fourth Amendment right, people's 14th Amendment right."

He calls for proactive measures to ensure that future generations are equipped to handle similar challenges, promoting a culture of awareness and legal literacy.

Host and Panelist Reflections

Nicolle Wallace lauds Wilder's actions and extends the conversation to the broader sports community:

Nicolle Wallace [14:05]: "Coach Wilder gets an MVP for his actions... We need more of this."

Deborah Haynes echoes the sentiment, highlighting the importance of standing up for democracy and criticizing bystanders who failed to act:

Deborah Haynes [16:40]: "We are only going to get through this part of history if we have more people who are willing to take a stand like Coach Wilder did."

Conclusion: A Call to Action

In his closing remarks, Wilder issues a sobering warning about the potential for increased targeting of Latino communities:

Yuman Wilder [18:20]: "Do ICE agents go to those schools and demand those kids out?... We have to have a better way to do this stuff."

He reiterates the critical need for constitutional awareness and advocacy to protect vulnerable populations from unjust governmental actions.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Yuman Wilder [03:38]: "I told my kids to walk to the back of the cages right here. And I said, they're going to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights... they have a 14th Amendment entitlement to live here."

• Kevin Blackistone [00:51]: "What would you do if you saw someone who you thought was being confronted by ICE...?"

• Nicolle Wallace [14:05]: "Coach Wilder gets an MVP for his actions... We need more of this."

• Deborah Haynes [16:40]: "We are only going to get through this part of history if we have more people who are willing to take a stand like Coach Wilder did."

Key Takeaways

• Courage in Adversity: Yuman Wilder's steadfast defense of his players' rights exemplifies personal bravery and a deep understanding of constitutional protections.

• Impact on Community: The incident has had a profound effect on the local community, leading to decreased participation in youth sports and heightened awareness of immigration enforcement tactics.

• Call for Institutional Support: There is a pressing need for sports institutions like Major League Baseball to actively support minority communities and stand against policies that threaten inclusivity and safety.

• Educational Empowerment: Educating young people about their legal rights is crucial in empowering them to defend themselves against potential governmental overreach.

• Advocacy for Policy Change: Wilder's experience underscores the necessity for systemic changes to prevent the targeting of vulnerable communities and to uphold constitutional rights for all individuals.

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This episode serves as a poignant reminder of the intersection between sports, politics, and civil rights, highlighting the critical role individuals and communities play in safeguarding democracy and fostering inclusive environments.

Transcript

[Nicole Wallace]

Not all meals are created equal.

[Yuman Wilder]

For instance, breakfast has the spicy egg McMuffin for a limited time and lunch doesn't. McDonald's breakfast comes first.

[Deborah Haynes]

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[Kevin Blackistone]

The Best People podcast was always about bringing you the best people I knew and the best people I came across in my life, in my career and on Deadline White House yesterday, I met one of those people, Yeoman Wilder. He answered the question that I think I've been wrestling with since November's election. What would I do? What would I do if I saw someone who I thought was being confronted by ICE or harassed by ice or singled out or profiled? To be honest, I'm not sure I'd have the presence of mind that human did to remind people of their rights, to remind law enforcement officials about the letter of the Constitution. But he did. In the moment he tells his story and we want to share it with you, our Best people family, for a couple of reasons. One, it is entirely inspiring to know that there are people like Yuman out there. But second, there's something we all need to ask ourselves in this moment that he describes. What would you do? Would you stop what you were doing if you were walking your dog or out on a run and you saw what he saw? Would you bear witness at a minimum, or stand up for other people's rights as Coach Yuman did? Or would you walk right by like the Upper Westside community members that he describes? Take a listen and let me know what you think. This is from my conversation with Coach Ewman Wilder, with the University of Maryland Professor Kevin Blackistone and Democracy Docket founder Mark Elias on Deadline White house on Monday, July 14. Now you should know that since our interview aired, the Department of Homeland Security it refutes this version of events. They told us ICE agents were not in the area at the time. We'll continue to follow Yumen's story and bring it to you. Despite Donald Trump's repeated campaign promises that his mass deportation raids would target the, quote, worst of the worst, we've seen his administration actually target some of the best young students, high school students, landscapers, hard working people on the job at work, and now American kids practicing the ultimate American pastime baseball at practice. One baseball coach, Human Wilder, described his experience at protecting his players after ICE agents showed up at the baseball practice he runs on Manhattan's Upper west side in Riverside Park. Wilder says the agents, who were armed with guns and tasers, approached some of the kids, some of the players, and began asking about their country of origin. Here's what he told local news.

[Yuman Wilder]

I told my kids to walk to the back of the cages right here. And I said, they're going to invoke their fifth amendment rights. They're not going to say anything. Their parents are, you know, from the Dominican Republic, South America, Mexican, Africa. But their kids who are born here, they have a 14th amendment entitlement to live here. I never in my life thought this was going to happen on the Upper west side in New York City, that whole thing, you know, until it happens to you, you're not aware, and it happened to us.

[Kevin Blackistone]

One local assembly woman who first brought the raid to public attention warns of this quote, the only thing that stood between those kids in Riverside park and a Florida detention center buried deep in the Everglades was a brave coach who knew the law. The coach Wilder has since moved the location and practice time to. To try to protect his kids and prevent this from happening again. Despite that precaution, the kids and their parents were so shaken up by the incident that only two. Two have returned to practice so far. Joining our conversation is that extraordinary baseball coach, Human Wilder, founder of Harlem Baseball Hitting Academy. Also joining our conversation, sports columnist for the Washington Post, professor of journalism at the University of Maryland, Kevin Blackistone is here. Mark Elias is with us as well. Coach, thank you for being here.

[Yuman Wilder]

Thank you for having me.

[Kevin Blackistone]

I want to ask you and I want to understand, I want to try to learn where your presence of mind came from, to reach for your knowledge of the Constitution, which not everybody has. But I first want you to just tell me what happened again. Just recount this experience for us.

[Yuman Wilder]

Well, practice was pretty much finishing up. We usually practice about two hours, two and a half hours. Whenever my iPhone goes out, we're finished with practice. We videotape all our practices for the last 22 years. So I went over to shoot some hoops because my kids are telling me how old I was, and I couldn't shoot a hoop like Stephen Curry, which I can't. And I just see. I just saw these ice surfaces walking. And I had seen them in Washington Heights. I had seen them in Dyckman up where more Dominican kids and South American kids live and When I turned around to get the ball and I turned around again, I saw them approaching my kids, and I just went over and I just heard them stating where you're from, where are your parents from? And I just stepped in and said, this is very inappropriate to ask these kids anything. And I said, as a person who's supervising them, I'm just going to have them implement their fifth Amen. Right. And not say anything to you.

[Kevin Blackistone]

What did the agent say when you confronted them and said, these kids have rights? And. And you got between the agents and the kids?

[Yuman Wilder]

Yeah, he called. He is a wonderful word FOR oh, another YouTube lawyer.

[Kevin Blackistone]

What did they do? Did they leave? I mean, were they ultimately persuaded to leave the kids alone?

[Yuman Wilder]

No, they kept changing the goalpost. It became a thing. If they have nothing, you know, the whole thing. If you have nothing to hide, you should see, you know, just Trump in the Fourth Amendment. Right. Didn't really care. The whole thing came up like, I don't care what you say. I don't care what the law says. And the only thing I had that day was my Uncle Pete, my ear. Who's my bishop, my mother, my ear. The Constitution and prayer. That's the only thing I had that day.

[Kevin Blackistone]

And you were. Tell me how old the kids were and where you guys were. You were in a park on Riverside in 72nd, where there are a bunch of ball fields, right?

[Yuman Wilder]

Well, there's batting cages there. We usually work in Harlem. We're the Harlem Baseball Hitting Academy. And, you know, I always tell people it's very important that we don't want to be sought out as a victim. This academy has been around for 22 years. We graduated 400 kids out of college who walk around with degrees from Stanford and Princeton and Harvard, all African American and Latino kids. So we're not. We're not going around saying, poor little us because we do very, very good work. Our thing is this should not. It shouldn't have to have a person who has a master's degree in law to know rights. And this can happen to anybody. If it can happen on the Upper west side of 72nd street, it can happen to anybody. And that's. That's why that we have to. There's got to be a better way to. For the administration to deal with. With this, and it's got to be a better way for people to understand their rights.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Coach, what did people. I mean, it's a really crowded area. A lot of people run in that area. A lot of. There's a lot of organized practices and there are other folks trying to practice in that area. What did the bystanders do?

[Yuman Wilder]

They were, I'm a New Yorker, bone on bone. And we're tough people here, but I saw cowards. And I hate to say that, as somebody who love the city.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Okay, they're kids. Yeah. Tell me, tell me what, what did you want to see? And what, and what, what disappointed you?

[Yuman Wilder]

Obeying to authoritarianism, to authority. That was out of line, pissing on the Constitution. And I, they came up with I don't care. I don't care.

[Kevin Blackistone]

How are the kids now?

[Yuman Wilder]

We usually carry between 20 and 25 kids. Some of our kids are playing in tournaments throughout the country. Matter of fact, when I get off here, one of our kids will actually be drafted this evening, and he'll be up 40. He'll be our 45th major league draft pick. Our kids, it's, it's, it's, it's, no one shows up. I mean, we have one kid showing up. We usually carry, you know, between 20, 20, 25 kids who are not, who are playing, and we usually carry during the summer, between 11 and 15 kids. And we're sure we're having one kid show up at practice right now.

[Kevin Blackistone]

The Major League All Star Game is this week, and I've just taken a break. But on the other side, I want to ask you what you'd like. You know, it's not just an attack on your kids or you. It's an attack on the sport. I want to ask you what you'd like to say to Major League Baseball on the other side of a break. I also want to bring Kevin and Mark into the conversation. Please stay with us. We'll all be right back.

[Deborah Haynes]

Reese's peanut butter cups are the greatest, but let me play devil's advocate here.

[Yuman Wilder]

Let's see. So, no, that's a good thing.

[Nicole Wallace]

That's definitely not a problem.

[Yuman Wilder]

Reese's you did it. You stumped this charming devil.

[Deborah Haynes]

As President Trump continues implementing his ambitious agenda, follow along with MSNBC's newest newsletter, Project 47. You'll get weekly updates sent straight to your inbox with expert analysis on the administration's latest actions and how they're affecting the American people.

[Kevin Blackistone]

The American people are basically telling the president that they are not okay with any of this.

[Deborah Haynes]

Sign up for the Project 47 newsletter at msnbc.com project47.

[Kevin Blackistone]

What might happen if Russia attacked the UK this is clearly.

[Yuman Wilder]

An enormous show of force.

[Deborah Haynes]

It is definitely out of the ordinary.

[Kevin Blackistone]

We ran a war game with former ministers back in the hot Seat.

[Deborah Haynes]

Ben Wallace, Amber Rudd, Jack Straw.

[Kevin Blackistone]

It's the kind of war game that's genuinely tested inside government.

[Deborah Haynes]

The Russians are signalling that there may be an attack.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Russia knows our weaknesses, but do you? I'm Deborah Haynes from Sky News and Tortoise. This is the war game.

[Yuman Wilder]

Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kevin Blackistone]

We'Re back with Yumin. Kevin and Mark are here as well. Yemen. What do you want Major League Baseball to know? A sport that depends on players from all over the world.

[Yuman Wilder]

Major League Baseball has disappointed the African American community so much that just the action for anything is irrelevant. I mean, unfortunately, when it comes to black people in the Major League Baseball, they find us irrelevant. They don't see us. They've done everything in their power to erase African American inclusion. So I don't have anything to say to Mexican baseball.

[Kevin Blackistone]

What do you have to say to the community about how they can do better if this happens again? My son plays baseball, plays travel baseball and has practiced on those fields for years. I can't imagine doing nothing when kids were targeted by armed agents.

[Yuman Wilder]

Well, I think the only thing we have to do, you know, we have a professor right there who, you know, we have to teach kids about civics. We have to have our kids understand that the Constitution, no matter whether you are born here or you're here illegally, that you still have constitutional right. You have a young man there who is one of my idols when it comes to voting rights in this country. So we have to have people like him go out and tell people and people who understand the Constitution, who can defend people's Fourth Amendment right, people's 14th Amendment right, people's right to be able to live in this country freely if they're born, raised and have done nothing illegal to, to warrant any type of inclusion intrusion into their civil rights.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Kevin Blackistone, your thoughts?

[Nicole Wallace]

Well, first of all, Coach Wilder gets an MVP for his actions. It's unfortunate, of course, that he had to go that far at all. But we need more coaches like that everywhere. Everybody needs to be aware of what's happening, not just from watching the news, but being active in your community. You know, and I'm one of those people that went out and I downloaded the ice block apple, and I've been stunned to hear it ping and to see that some of these very same situations are happening not too far from where I live, not too far from where I work. And it's really unfortunate that this situation has poisoned sports. You mentioned the All Star Game coming up. I think I counted a couple dozen Latin American baseball players who will be on the field for the All Star Game. And I know that some of them, certainly some with the Dodgers, have been, have expressed how upset they are with what happened at Dodger Stadium. Talking about ICE showing up and forcing the Dodgers organization. Turn those folks around, turn those folks away, just like Coach Wilder did on his own. And so we need more of this. And, and it's really is, it really is sad that, you know, it has injected itself into our, into our sports culture. People want to tell you that sports and politics don't mix. And yet we saw sports and politics mix right here on the show, which Coach Wilder was talking about with the Dodgers, with the FIFA Club World cup the other day. You know, I, for one, don't think that this country under this administration, is really fit to host the World cup or fit to host the Olympics coming up, because those organizations have, have information in their, in their charters about what they stand for and who they stand for. FIFA has an entire section about human rights. And yet Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, had the nerve to embrace President Trump the other day at the championship game of the Club World Cup. Someone who does not stand for human rights, but instead is trampling human rights.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Yeah. Including those of kids. Mark Elias, your thoughts?

[Deborah Haynes]

Yeah, look, you and I talk a lot on this show about what it is we all need to do to protect democracy. And Coach Wilder did it like he is the hero of the story because he showed courage and he was surrounded by cowards. The cowards who were, who were staking out and approaching these kids with badges and guns should be ashamed of themselves. History will remember them for the cowards they are. The bystanders that the coach got so emotional about. What were they doing? You know, we all ask ourselves, what would we do if democracy would stay? What would we do if we were facing injustice? What would we do if our children, our children were being, were being threatened? Well, those bystanders told us what they did. They did nothing. They are the cowards, too. And we are only going to get through this part of history. We are only going to make it through to the other side if we have more people who are willing to take a stand like Coach Wilder did, and fewer people who will go along and get along and not stand up and do what is right. And finally, I'd add this for Major League Baseball. You know, in 2021, you told us that the voter suppression laws in Georgia were bad enough for you to move the All Star Game. Where are you today? Where are you Major League Baseball. Where are you, the billionaire owners of these sports teams, when democracy needs you, why aren't you supporting those kids? Why aren't you supporting your players? Why aren't you speaking out in favor of democracy? Because you're cowards. Also.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Human. You want a last word on this, Yerman?

[Yuman Wilder]

My only fear is the gateway. There's a gateway drug to things, and the gateway is now, do we take kids who are going to predominantly Latino schools? Harlem, but I'm close to Washington Heights where Manny Ramirez, Rod Peru went to high school. It's 98% Latino. L Lon is another school that is predominantly Latino. Now, do ICE agents go to those schools and demand those kids out? And now when the mothers and fathers come and try to pick them up, do they detain these parents now? So it's a slippery road that deals with a lot of things that we have to be very conscious of. And that's why we have to have people speaking up and we have to have a better way to do this stuff. I'm no fan of any of this, but I'm also a fan of the fact that we can be better as people and we can protect people. And only way you can protect people is understanding that the Constitution has. We have to rely on that. And we can't cherry pick it. We can't let it. We can't take people's First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment right. But yet you want to hold on to your Second Amendment right. And that's, and that's, that's to your old God. But we're willing to take rights from other people and not care, have a concern. We have to care about people, young people.

[Kevin Blackistone]

Well, any of those kids that have you in their corner are very, very, very lucky and we feel lucky to get to talk to you today. Please come back anytime. Anytime. Thank you so much.

[Yuman Wilder]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

[Kevin Blackistone]

You're a wilder. Yeah. Kevin and Mark, my favorite conversation in a very long time. Thank you very much, all of you. Thank you. Thank you so much for listening to this special bonus episode of the Best People with Nicole Wallace. There will be a new episode like usual this Monday and for MSNBC premium subscribers only, early access this Friday. See you then.

[Deborah Haynes]

This week on Meet the Press. After the tragedy in Texas and as more questions emerge about what happened, Kristen Welker sits with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Ngo, plus Governor Andy Beshear and Senator John Barrasso on President Trump's trade war. This week on Meet the Press. Listen to the full episode now. Wherever you get your podcasts.