Athlete activists and activist groups are calling for the Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) to move their events from Georgia, after the GOP-led government passed an election reform bill, Breitbart reports.
The Masters is scheduled next month in Augusta, while the MLB All-Star Game is scheduled to be held this July in Atlanta, Georgia.
However, activist groups around the country are trying to stop both events from taking place in the State after Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed select election reforms into law, such as mandating photo ID for absentee ballots. A move Democrats say will restrict voting rights.
Warner Todd Huston writes, “The new law was praised by Heritage Action Executive Director Jessica Anderson, who said, ‘Reforms to make voter ID requirements and early voting access more consistent statewide, modernize the state’s voting rolls, and ensure robust oversight of voting and elections will protect Georgia’s votes and make the state a model for the rest of the country.’”
MLB Players Association (MLBPA) President Tony Clark has already said they are open to discussing a change in venues, outside of Georgia, according to the Boston Globe.
“Players are very much aware” of the Georgia bill, Clark told the Globe. “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The National Black Justice Coalition argued that golfers should refuse to play at the Masters, unless the law is repealed.
“The PGA Tour and Masters Tournament have both 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,” the NBJC said.
Activists are also pressuring corporations and businesses by calling for people to boycott Atlanta-based companies such as Delta, Home Depot and Coca-Cola. The Georgia mayor of Savannah, Van Johnson, said he would not be buying Coke products until action is taken.
The PGA and MLB have yet to say whether they plan to cancel the events.