Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Major League Baseball (MLB) added its name to the growing chorus of those opposing the recent Republican voter suppression bill that was signed into law in Georgia by Governor Brian Kemp.
Major League Baseball announced it would not hold this year’s MLB All-Star game in Georgia which was slated for July 13 at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. issued the following statement today regarding the 2021 All-Star Game:
“Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views. I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.
“We will continue with our plans to celebrate the memory of Hank Aaron during this season’s All-Star festivities. In addition, MLB’s planned investments to support local communities in Atlanta as part of our All-Star Legacy Projects will move forward. We are finalizing a new host city and details about these events will be announced shortly.”
Several lawsuits have already been filed against the Georgia Republicans’ voter suppression legislation that is clearly racist in its targeting of Black Georgians, and other people of color.
For example, among other things, the law now makes it a felony to give voters standing in long line food or water.
The Republican law also attacks early voting, Sunday voting and absentee voting, which were all used in the historic high-turnout 2020 Election, and in the January 5th runoffs which sent Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to Congress—delivering the U.S. Senate to the Democratic Party and the Biden-Harris White House.
According to the Brennan Center, As of March 24, legislators have introduced 361 bills with restrictive provisions in 47 states. That’s 108 more than the 253 restrictive bills tallied as of February 19, 2021 — a 43 percent increase in little more than a month.
