Two major sporting events are caught in the crossfire of Georgia’s new controversial election law, reports CNN.
A leading Black civil rights group says the PGA should pull the Master’s Tournament in the state in protest of a new law signed by Gov. Brian Kemp that adds a photo ID requirement for voting absentee by mail, limits where drop boxes can be placed, and when they can be accessed and bans people from handing out food or water to voters waiting in line.
“The PGA Tour and Masters Tournament made commitments to help diversify golf and address racial inequities in this country – and we expect them to not only speak out against Georgia’s new racist voter suppression law – but to also take action,” National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director David J. Johns said in a statement.
“Georgia’s new law restricting voting access is designed to turn back the clock on civil rights and return Black and poor and already disenfranchised voters in Georgia to second class citizens.”
MLB Players Association (MLBPA) executive director Tony Clark told The Boston Globe he would “look forward” to discuss moving the All-Star Game out of the Peach State.
“Players are very much aware,” Clark told the news outlet. “As it relates to the All-Star Game, we have not had a conversation with the league on that issue. If there is an opportunity to, we would look forward to having that conversation.”
The MLB All-Star Game is scheduled to take place this summer at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.
Kemp said signing the bill was a way to “take another step toward ensuring our elections are secure, accessible, and fair.”
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association also condemned the new law.
“SB 202 is a direct attack on the historic turnout and participation by voters during the November and January elections — elections where Georgians voted to elect the first Black and Jewish senators from Georgia,” the group said in a statement.
“This is a racist backlash designed to silence the people’s voices, mirroring the over 200 bills in state legislatures across the country designed to target voters and suppress democracy.”
Former President Donald Trump in a statement congratulated the state.
“They learned from the travesty of the 2020 presidential election, which can never be allowed to happen again,” Trump said. “Too bad these changes could not have been done sooner.”
Source: Newmax
