ATLANTA, GA – Gov. Brian Kemp (R) slammed the decision by Major League Baseball (MLB) to move this year’s All-Star Game out of Georgia because of a controversial voting bill passed last month.
‘Attack on our state’ : Gov. Kemp responds to MLB moving All-Star Game out of Atlanta https://t.co/0kiuHtvcIK
— John Kuja (@JohnKuja3) April 3, 2021
Kemp issued a statement saying MLB “caved to fear, political opportunism, and liberal lies”:
“Georgians – and all Americans – should fully understand what the MLB’s knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included. If the left doesn’t agree with you, facts and the truth do not matter.
“This attack on our state is the direct result 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. I will not back down. Georgians will not be bullied. We will continue to stand up for secure, accessible, fair elections.”
“These are not men and women who are unclear about their motives and their effect. These bills are being promulgated across the country with the intended effect of blocking voters who are becoming inconvenient to the Republican Party.” @staceyabrams https://t.co/SQGWmgOerC
— Lauren Groh-Wargo (@gwlauren) April 1, 2021
Former Georgia Representative Stacey Abrams called the Georgia voting law “racist” and a “redux of Jim Crow in a suit and tie”:
“The secretary of state and the governor went to great pains to assure America that Georgia’s elections were secure.
And so the only connection that we can find is that more people of color voted, and it changed the outcome of elections in a direction that Republicans do not like.
“And so, instead of celebrating better access and more participation, their response is to try to eliminate access to voting for primarily communities of color.
And there’s a direct correlation between the usage of drop boxes, the usage of in-person early voting, especially on Sundays, and the use of vote by mail and a direct increase in the number of people of color voting.”
Georgians – and all Americans – should fully understand what the MLB’s knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included. If the left doesn’t agree with you, facts and the truth do not matter.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 2, 2021
The Governor said that he had spoken to officials with the Atlanta Braves organization and that they “do not support” the move made by MLB. The Braves issued a statement on their Twitter account Friday:
“The Atlanta Braves are deeply disappointed by the decision of Major League Baseball to move its’ 2021 All-Start Game. This decision 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 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 issued that are important to our community.
“Unfortunately, business, employees, and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision.”
The Braves statement regarding the moving of the MLB All-Star Game: pic.twitter.com/0Iapm3eIre
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 2, 2021
The All-Star Games is being moved out of Atlanta after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Friday that the move is the “best way to demonstrate our values as a sport”:
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box.”
On March 26, Gov. Kemp signed new legislation, titled SB2020, which passed by both state houses to roll back voting by mail and other absentee balloting efforts. The law also banned the distribution of food and water to people waiting in line to vote.
GA Gov. Kemp: ‘Ridiculous’ of Biden to Support MLB Moving All-Star Game from Georgia Over Election Law https://t.co/KUcTAMiKKS
— starrick1 (@starrick1) April 3, 2021
Democrats argue the new law will result in voter suppression.
President Joe Biden labeled the law “sick” and “un-American,” and said he supports moving the All-Star Game out of Georgia:
“I think today’s professional athletes are acting incredibly responsibly. I would strongly support them doing that. People look to them. They’re leaders.
“Look what’s happened with the NBA, as well. Look what’s happened across the board. The very people who are victimized the most are the people who are the leaders in these various sports, and it’s just not right.”
Democrats are concerned that Georgia’s new voting law will have a significant effect on turnout and electoral outcomes. The evidence suggests otherwise. https://t.co/CCu7bKxNHu
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 3, 2021
David Ralson (R- Blue Ridge), the Republican Speaker of the Georgia State House, said he will continue to support the law, adding that MLB’s decision will hurt Georgians:
“This decision is not only economically harmful, it also robs Georgians of a special celebration of our national pastime free of politics. But Georgia will not be bullied by socialists and their sympathizers.
“We will continue to stand for accessible, secure elections that are free and fair. And we will continue to speak truth despite extortion and intimidation.”
GA Gov. Kemp on MLB moving All-Star Game https://t.co/03LV22qdFt via @FacebookWatch
— ❌TexasNative4DJT❌MAGA❌KAG❌ (@TexasNative4DJT) April 3, 2021
During a press conference held today, the Governor called out President Biden and Stacey Abrams for their attack on the voting law:
“In the middle of a pandemic, MLB put the wishes of Stacey Abrams and President Biden ahead of the economic well-being of hard-working Georgians, who were counting on the All-Star Game for a paycheck.
“Georgians and all Americans should know what this decision means. It means cancel culture and partisan activists are coming for your business. They are coming for your game or event in your hometown. They are coming to cancel sports or how you make a living. They will stop at nothing to silence all of us.
“They don’t care about jobs. They don’t care about communities. And they certainly don’t care about access to the ballot box.”
Former President Barack Obama tweeted support for MLB’s decision:
Congratulations to MLB for taking a stand on behalf of voting rights for all citizens. There’s no better way for America’s pastime to honor the great Hank Aaron, who always led by example.”
Congratulations to @MLB for taking a stand on behalf of voting rights for all citizens. There’s no better way for America’s pastime to honor the great Hank Aaron, who always led by example.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 3, 2021
MLB plans to honor Aaron, the former Braves legend and Hall of Famer, at the All-Star Game.
Late last night, former President Donald Trump called for a boycott of Major League Baseball:
“Baseball is already losing tremendous numbers of fans, and now they leave Atlanta with their All-Star Game because they are afraid of the Radical Left Democrats who do not want voter I.D., which is desperately needed, to have anything to do with our elections.
“Boycott baseball and all of the woke companies that are interfering with Free and Fair Elections. Are you listening Coke, Delta, and all!”
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