Major League Baseball is taking a stand on voting rights.
On Friday, the league announced that the 2021 MLB All-Star Game and the 2021 MLB Draft, both slated to take place in Atlanta, have been transferred from Jorge State. A new host city is yet to be announced for this season’s All-Star celebration.
The MLB says the decision is based on Georgia’s new voting rights bill, which has been criticized by President Joe Biden. MLB released a statement on Friday regarding the verdict:
Major League Baseball basically supports the right to vote for all Americans and opposes the ballot box ban. In 2020, the MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help create a future in which everyone participates in shaping America. We used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities across our country to perform their civic duty and to participate actively in the voting process. Proper access to voting is unwavering support of our game.
We will continue our plans to celebrate the memory of Hank Aaron during this season’s All-Star celebration. In addition, MLB’s planned investments to support local communities in Atlanta as part of our All-Star Legacy projects will go forward. We are finalizing a new host city and details about these events will be announced soon.
While no new location has been set, a new host will be announced soon.
Here’s what you need to know:
Why did MLB move to the All-Star Game?
Major League Baseball took a tough stance on Georgia’s controversial new voting rights law, both originally scheduled for Atlanta, while opposing the move to the 2021 All-Star Game and the 2021 Draft.
In March, Georgia lawmakers signed into action The new voting rights bill, whichAmong other things, the mail-in restricts ballots and limits access to those ballots.
The bill sparked outrage among local businesses and civil rights groups, eventually leading to lawsuits arguing that the bill is unconstitutional. Many see the bill as an attempt to suppress the state’s voters.
Rob Manfred announced that the investment to support local communities in Atlanta would go ahead as planned, and a new host should be selected soon.
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