OC Register: MLB moving All-Star Game, draft out of Atlanta over law restricting voting rights

[AngelsWin.com]

In an unprecedented move for the sport, Major League Baseball announced Friday it was pulling this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft from Atlanta in response to the controversial Georgia law restricting voting rights.

This year’s game was scheduled for July 13 at Truist Park, with the Futures Game and Home Run Derby scheduled for the days before. A new host city will be announced at a later date.

The 2020 All-Star Game was scheduled for Dodger Stadium but was canceled entirely when the COVID-19 pandemic shut the sport down and a shortened 60-game season was scheduled. The Dodgers are now scheduled to host the game in 2022. According to a team source, the Dodgers are not interested in hosting this year’s game.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the decision to pull the game from Atlanta just eight days after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law an overhaul of state elections that includes restrictions on voting by mail, requires a driver’s license to apply for an absentee ballot, limits the number of drop boxes, gives the state greater control of local election systems and prohibits volunteers from giving away food or drink to voters wiating in lines.

Opponents say the law unfairly targets minority voters.

In his statement Friday, Manfred said he made the decision to protest the Georgia law after discussions with the MLB Players Association, individual players and the Players Alliance, an organization of Black players formed last summer during the protests against unequal justice.

“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,” Manfred said.

“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process.  Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.”

The Atlanta Braves released a statement expressing their displeasure with MLB’s decision.

“The Atlanta Braves are deeply disappointed by the decision of Major League Baseball to move its 2021 All-Star Game,” the statement said. “This was neither our decision, nor our recommendation and 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. Our city has always been known as a uniter in divided times and we will miss the opportunity to address issues that are important to our community.

“Unfortunately, businesses, employees and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision.”

The NFL, NBA and NCAA have moved major events in response to laws in various states in the past. But MLB has no history of doing this.

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