Major sporting events could be moved out of the state of Georgia if calls from civil rights groups are to be intercepted.
Calls to move The Masters golf tournament and MLB All-Star game move come after the state passed a controversial electoral law Thursday.
Republican supporters say the new law is necessary to restore confidence in the elections in Georgia. Democrats say this will limit access to voting, especially for voters with color.
However, the effects on sporting events could be felt immediately if the requirements are met.
The Masters will be held next month in Augusta Major League Baseball. The all-star game is scheduled to take place in Atlanta in July. American League All-Star Jose Berrios of the Minnesota Twins is pictured
Tiger Woods is pictured with the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket ceremony in Augusta, Georgia, in April 2019. There are now calls to postpone the competition or to boycott players
Civil rights group The National Black Justice Coalition is calling for two of the largest national sporting events to be moved out of Georgia following major changes to state electoral law
Participants in the annual All-Star Game, which was due to take place in Atlanta in July, should be open to a change in venues, according to the Boston Globe.
“Players are very aware of Georgia’s electoral law, which has voting restrictions that some believe will make it especially difficult for black voters to vote,” Tony Clark told Globe.
‘Regarding the All-Star game, we haven’t had a conversation with the league on this matter. If the opportunity presents itself, we would look forward to this conversation. ‘
A comment posted in the Los Angeles Times also called for MLB’s All-Star game to be postponed.
American sports commentator Keith Olbermann tweeted that baseball must lead the # Boycott Georgia movement
Civil rights groups, including the National Black Justice Coalition, have argued that unless the law is repealed, golfers should refuse to play the Masters, which is held annually at Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Course.
“The PGA Tour and Masters Tournament are both committed to helping diversify the sport of golf and eradicating racial inequalities in this country. We expect them not only to speak out against Georgia’s new law to suppress racist voters, but also to take action.” , it says in the statement.
Activists are also calling on people to boycott Atlanta-based companies like Delta and Home Depot Coca-Cola, even though the beverage maker has not yet specifically broken the law.
Georgia Mayor of Savannah Van Johnson said he would not buy Coke products until the problem was resolved.
Georgia Mayor of Savannah Van Johnson said he would not buy Coke products until the problem was resolved
The mayor of Savannah has announced that it will boycott the Atlanta, Georgia-based company Coca-Cola
The director of films like Ford versus Ferrari, Walk The Line, Logan and director James Mangold tweeted Thursday, “I’m not going to make a movie in Georgia.”
The director said he will stop making any upcoming films in the state of Georgia
Democratic Coalition co-founder and chief investigator Scott Dworkin has also added support for a boycott in Georgia
The director of films like Walk The Line, Ford versus Ferrari and Logan, director James Mangold, tweeted Thursday, “I’m not going to make a movie in Georgia.”
He later stated in his comments on The Wrap, “Georgia used cash to steal movie jobs from other states where people could vote. I don’t want to play there. I don’t tell anyone what to do. I just can’t work there until that changes. ‘
“Georgia used cash to steal film jobs from other states where people can vote. I don’t want to play there, ”said Mangold.
“I don’t tell anyone what to do. I just can’t work there until that changes. ‘
The new bill, signed Thursday by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, includes major changes to Georgia electoral law, including certain provisions that require a driver’s license or ID.
There are also new restrictions on ballot boxes and even a rule that would make it illegal to give people in line to vote for food or drinks in a practice known as “line warming”.
Activists are also calling on people to boycott Atlanta-based companies like Delta, Home Depot and Coca-Cola
The beverage manufacturer has not yet expressly spoken out against the new electoral laws
Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter Bernice King said boycotting Georgia companies would not have the right effects
Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter Bernice King said boycotting Georgia companies would not have the right effects.
“That would harm middle class workers and people struggling with poverty,” King tweeted. “It would increase the damage done by racism and classism.”
The new bill also introduces a number of new voting restrictions.
Among them, there will be new voter requirements to identify postal ballot papers, state officials will be able to take over local electoral bodies, and the use of ballot boxes will be limited.
The law replaces the elected secretary of state as chairman of the state electoral committee with a new member of the legislature after Republican Foreign Secretary Brad Raffensperger rejected Trump’s attempts to dismiss Georgia’s election results.
Voters are pictured in a long line that stretched around the Metropolitan Library in Atlanta last year
It also allows the board to remove and replace county electoral officials who are considered below par.
Georgia was one of the most controversial states in the last presidential election.
Joe Biden became the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to run the state’s presidential election.
Two runoff elections following Biden’s victory helped turn the Senate in favor of the Democrats.
Many of Donald Trump’s allegations of electoral fraud centered on Georgia, and Trump called on Kemp to reverse the results of the elections in the state that Kemp rejected.
Although Trump’s fraud claims are unfounded, Republicans have focused on changing electoral laws across the country.
By February, 43 states had introduced bills that would restrict electoral laws across the country.
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