Reactions to MLB moving All-Star Game from Georgia over new voting laws
On April 2, Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced that after engaging with MLB Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others – and listening to all their views – the decision was made that the best way to demonstrate Major League Baseball’s values as a sport is to relocate the 2021 All-Star Game and MLB Draft from Atlanta, Georgia, “in response to a new Georgia law that has civil rights groups concerned about its potential to restrict voting access for people of color.”
The Commissioner went on to state:
“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.”
On April 1, The New York Times posted the complete text of Georgia’s new voting law:
New legislation passed by state Republicans creates an array of new restrictions and limits on voting. Here’s the full document.
A PDF version of this document with embedded text is available at the link below:
Immediately upon hearing that announcement, Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter and Baltimore Orioles’ Chairman and CEO John Angelos and Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott were among those applauding the move.
The Orioles organization joins the City of Baltimore in support of today’s decision by Major League Baseball to relocate the 2021 All-Star Game and MLB Draft. As the birthplace of civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall, we stand united with Commissioner Manfred in denouncing this malicious legislative effort to suppress voters in Georgia and other state legislatures.
Baseball is our national pastime and preserving the right to vote is a pillar of our American democracy. The City of Baltimore and the Birds of Baltimore applaud MLB’s patriotism in supporting voting rights, and we encourage everyone to use this moment to fight for fair elections and register eligible Americans to vote and make their voices heard. ~ Baltimore Orioles
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“The act of participating in our country’s election process is our civic responsibility and instrumental to our country’s foundation. We should promote increasing voter turnout as opposed to any measures that adversely impact the ability to cast a ballot. In November, the Marlins proudly set out to promote the vote with our Election Day Feed the Polls initiative, providing meals to voters as our local election officials conducted free and fair elections. We support the Commissioner’s decision to stand up for the values of our game and not hold this year’s All-Star Game in the state of Georgia.” ~ Miami Marlins
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One MLB team not supportive of the move – would obviously be the Atlanta Braves – who stated in their announcement that they were deeply disappointed by the decision.
“This was neither our decision, nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city,” the team said in a statement.
“The Braves organization will continue to stress the importance of equal voting opportunities and we had hoped our city could use this event as a platform to enhance the discussion. Our city has always been known as a uniter in divided times and we will miss the opportunity to address issues that are important to our community.
“Unfortunately, businesses, employees and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision.”
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Also supportive of moving the All-Star game out of Georgia, is U.S. President Joe Biden. On April 2, the White House released word that:
“The President has made his concerns about the bill passed in Georgia clear, given its extreme provisions that impact the ability of so many citizens to cast their votes,” the White House said. “He said earlier this week that if the decision was made by Major League Baseball to move the All-Star game, he would certainly support that decision – and now that MLB has made that choice, he certainly does.”
One politician obviously not supporting moving the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta is Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp who was quoted by ABC News as saying that, “this attack on our state is the direct results of repeated lies from Joe Biden and Stacey Abrams about a bill that expands access to the ballot box and ensures the integrity of our elections.”
The Governor and other Republicans that supported the GOP bill say that the bill is not restricting access to voting but ensuring they are accurate and fair.
“I will not back down. Georgians will not be bullied. We will continue to stand up for secure, accessible, fair elections,” said Kemp. ~ ABC News
In the video accompanying this article, see legendary sportscaster and CNN contributor Bob Costas react to the news that the MLB is moving the All-Star Game and all associated activities out of Atlanta in response to Georgia’s recently passed laws that placed new restrictions on voting.
(Source: MLB)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
