Politics
Trump calls for BOYCOTT of ‘woke’ Major League Baseball after All-Star Game is pulled out of Georgia
DONALD Trump has called for a boycott of Major League Baseball after this year’s All-Star Game was pulled out of Georgia.
Trump released a statement on Friday night accusing the league of moving the game because they are “afraid of the Radical Left Democrats.”
Trump told his fans to ‘boycott’ baseball[/caption]
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Friday that the All-Star game would be moved[/caption]
The league decided not to host the All-Star Game or the 2021 draft in Atlanta because of Georgia’s new voting law, which many say unfairly limits minority groups’ access to the ballot box.
“Baseball is already losing tremendous numbers of fans,” Trump wrote in his statement.
“And now they leave Atlanta with their All-Star Game because they are afraid of the Radical Left Democrats who do not want voter ID, which is desperately needed, to have anything to do with their elections.”
“Boycott baseball and all of the woke companies that are interfering with Free and Fair Elections. Are you listening Coke, Delta, and all!”
Trump accused the league of being ‘afraid of Radical Left Democrats’[/caption]
In a statement explaining the decision to move the All-Star Game, league Commissioner Rob Manfred explained, “Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views.
“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’s statement came just days after the White House pressed MLB to relocate the event.
Speaking to ESPN on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said he would “strongly support” pulling the game out of Atlanta because of the new law, which he characterized as being like “Jim Crow on Steroids.”
Manfred continued that MLB “fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box.”
A new venue for the All-Star Game and draft has not yet been announced.
Manfred hasn’t yet announced a new venue for the events[/caption]
While his statement stops short of mentioning the law change directly, Manfred’s comments appear to come in reference to the Election Integrity Act of 2021, a controversial new bill signed by Gov. Brian Kemp last month.
The sweeping legislation makes multiple changes to the voting process in the state, making it more difficult to vote by mail or without a valid ID.
Supporters of the bill said the new law merely ensures the integrity of future elections, despite no evidence of voter fraud being found in 2020 – contrary to Trump’s repeated claims.
Critics, meanwhile, say the changes disproportionately effect minority groups, including black Georgians, Hispanics and the disabled.
The All-Star Game, which was set to take place at Truist Park, would have been Atlanta’s third time as host, having previously held the event in 1972 and 2000.
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In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves said they were “deeply disappointed” about the MLB’s decision to move the event.
“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 team wrote.
“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.”
