Like it or not, politics has entered every aspect of our lives. One of the most prominent examples was when the state of North Carolina enacted a law surrounding gender and who could use which facilities when answering the call of nature. As a result of that law, numerous sporting and entertainment events were moved in protest of the law.
Once again, as a result of an enacted law, – this time it is a voting rights law in Georgia that severely restricts the voting rights of some of the state’s residents – events are being moved away from the state in protest.
The new voting law was enacted and quickly signed by Governor Brian Kemp on March 25 was in response to un-substantiated reports of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election. Included in the new law are restrictions on mail-in voting, limits voting locations, and prohibits anyone was providing food or beverages to the lines of people waiting to cast their vote.
The 2021 MLB All Star Game was originally scheduled to be played in Truist Park – the home of the Atlanta Braves. However, after the CEOs of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola strongly objected to the law, Major League Baseball has taken the All Star game out of Georgia.
Normally held in June, MLB has moved the annual baseball amateur draft to be a part of the All Star festivities. The draft has also been moved out of Georgia.
A new location has yet to be named for the All Star game as the 2021 baseball season gets underway for a full season of games after the severely shortened Covid season.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with players, the Major League Baseball Players Association, and the Players Alliance before making the decision. Speaking on the decision, Manfred said, “I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All Star Game and MLB draft. Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box.”
Set to see a huge economic boost to their home park and the area, the Atlanta Braves spoke on Manfred’s announcement saying, “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.”
While the White House has reported that President Joe Biden supports the decision to move the All Star Game, the former president, who continues to spout that the election was stolen from him, is urging his supporters to. “boycott baseball and all of the woke companies that are interfering with Free and Fair Elections.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also spoke on the decision saying that it was a “knee-jerk decision”; adding, “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 (President) Joe Biden and Stacey Abrams about a bill that expands access to the ballot box and ensures the integrity of our elections”. Kemp continued, “I will not back down. Georgians will not be bullied.”
A part of the All Star week festivities was to honour Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron who died in January at the age of 86. Aaron spent much of his career with the Braves. Commissioner Manfred said that those plans are still in place, no matter where the game will end up being held.
feature photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuroda/52043725/, taken by Michael Kuroda