Any law that limits voter participation is a bad one, and the Braves are just collateral.
MLB opted to move the 2021 All-Star Game and Draft in response to laws enacted by the state of Georgia which restrict voters’ access to the ballot box. The bill, signed into law by Georgia governor Brian Kemp just last week, adds new ID requirements for absentee voting, limits the use of drop boxes, gives the state legislature more authority over elections and even makes it a misdemeanor to provide food or water to voters waiting in line to do their civic duty. It is directly aimed at minorities, whether Kemp and the state legislature want to admit it or not.
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, backing up MLB’s decision.
The Braves release a strong opposition to Rob Manfred’s decision
Marcus Stroman was just one of many to call out the Braves for their strongly-worded press release. While this will surely impact local businesses, perhaps it will inspire them to put more pressure on the state to redact said law. Such is the purpose of private company boycotts. Instead, another city will benefit.
It didn’t have to be like this. Georgia was a major battleground state in the 2020 presidentail election, and in a senate runoff, both of which went to the Democratic candidate. Since, Georgia has enacted voting laws to directly impact elections moving forward, specifically targeting inner cities.
Stroman, who is informed on such issues, sees the obvious hypocrisy in the Braves statement, and how it represents and ultimate lack of understanding by the franchise.