Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images
Major League Baseball announced this Friday that the All-Star Game that was going to take place this summer. in Atlanta it will be moved due to the new law of the state of Georgia that restricts minority access to vote in elections.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the decision was “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport”, while the players’ alliance expressed its support for the decision accusing the attempt to marginalize minority communities in the vote in Georgia, a traditionally Republican state that was won by Democrats in the last elections for both president and senators.
The law was described as “an atrocity” by the president of the United States, Joe Biden.
The SB law 202 driven by Republican legislators fu It was signed this week by the Governor of Georgia and includes provisions such as limiting days to vote early and requiring a driver’s license to receive a ballot, plus prohibit food or water from being given to people in line to vote, which may take several hours based on recent elections in Georgia. .
The Braves statement regarding the moving of the MLB All-Star Game: pic.twitter.com/0Iapm3eIre
– Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 2,
The Atlanta Braves franchise regretted the decision, but said it supports equal voting opportunities.
Following the news, various sports personalities applauded MLB’s decision, including Magic Johnson and LeBron James.
I want to applaud and extend a thank you to @ MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for moving the All Star Game out of Georgia following the Governor’s signing of the new restrictive voting law. Way to be a leader and take a strong stance!
– Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 2, 2021
Proud to call myself a part of the @ mlb family today. @ Morethanavote # BlackLivesMatter 🙏🏾✊🏾👑
– LeBron James (@KingJames) April 2,