MLB Moves Playoffs out of Atlanta due to Voter Suppression Bill

ARNAV VISHWAKARMA

podcast editor

On April 2nd, the Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that it would be moving the 2021 All Star game and draft out of Georgia after the passing of a bill that would threaten voting rights for many Americans. The draft, which was scheduled to take place in early July, is a time when MLB teams draft amateur players. The All Star game is typically a highlight of the MLB Season and held around the mid-summer (the middle of the season) between fan-chosen rosters. This year, it was scheduled to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on July 13th, following the draft, but was relocated due to the state’s misalignment with MLB and ultimately American values.

Georgia’s newly passed bill was quite controversial, as it severely limited the access to voting for many Georgians, specifically those belonging to minority/Democratic communities. The voting bill is quite extensive and intricate, but essentially grants the Republican controlled legislature more control over voting in the state by granting them power to suspend election officials; in effect, this provides an advantage for republicans. It also makes it significantly harder for many to vote by actions such as reducing drop boxes and its accessibility, banning mobile voting centers, providing voters less time to request absentee ballots, making it a misdemeanor to distribute food and water to voters in line, etc. The bill especially affects people of color, which is an issue that has plagued the voting scene in the United States from the nation’s beginnings.

Voter suppression is an issue that the nation is familiar with, as it was founded with many not even having the right to vote. Even after the ratification of the 15th amendment in 1870, which prohibited governments from denying citizens the right to vote based on race, voter suppression continued well into the 1960s, and as demonstrated recently is even seen today. Women were only technically granted the right to vote with the passing of the 19th amendment, and suppression continued to exist for many with the form of literacy tests, poll taxes, accessibility to voting, etc.

Taking note of the situation in Georgia, the MLB has stated that the bill’s implications do not align with the league’s values. While the league faced a fair share of criticism for the economic

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

Many other leagues, such as the NBA, WNBA, and NFL have also been able to use their platforms to push for change.

ALL PHOTOS BY JASON CHEN

PHOTO COURTESY OF CNN

impact that the relocation of the game may have on Atlanta, the decision was ultimately political and would have little to no economic impact on Atlanta amidst the coronavirus pandemic and the majority of ticket sales originating in Georgia itself (New York Times). The league has made plans to relocate the game to Coors Field in Denver on July 13th, as originally planned. Notably, the statement released by MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred ensured that the plans to support local communities in Atlanta through the All-Star Legacy Project would be unaffected. The commissioner also noted that the MLB “proudly used [its] platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout [the United States] to perform their civic duty and participate in the voting process”, and supports fair access to voting.

While the MLB’s recent actions have proven to be a great stride in raising awareness to the issue of voter suppression, this is not the first time that a sporting league has driven for social change. Many other leagues, such as the NBA, WNBA, and NFL have also been able to use their platforms to push for change. In 2016, NFL Athlete Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem, which drove many other athletes to follow in a protest against racial injustices and police brutality. Similarly, WNBA athletes paved the way for certain NBA protests with various movements such as wearing attire with messages calling for social justice. Despite the criticism and backlash that these athletes may have faced, they continued to push for social change.

Ultimately, the MLB’s decision to relocate from Georgia to Denver was a political one, fueled by the league’s values and belief in democracy. The push for social change is one that is not new to the sports scene, but is welcome and has the power to make a difference.

Georgia’s newly passed bill was quite controversial, as it severely limited access to voting for many Georgians.