LeBron James, John Legend and more stars are speaking out against Georgia’s controversial new law that could make it harder for Black residents to vote.
Ever since Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, 57, signed the controversial voting bill SB 202 – backed by Republicans and passed in the statehouse on a party-line vote – into law on Mar. 25, there’s been a massive outcry about how it could likely suppress Black voters. The new law cuts down on times for advanced voting, requires an ID for an absentee ballot and forbids volunteers from providing food or water to voters waiting for hours in long lines. As a result, many celebrities have come out against SB 202.
NBA superstar LeBron James recently became a part owner of the Boston Red Sox MLB team, and cheered on the league’s decision to move the 2021 All-Star game out of Atlanta in protest of the new law. The game will now take place at Denver’s Coors Field. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the decision to move the All-Star Game was “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport” in protest over GA’s restrictive new voting law. As a result, LeBron tweeted on Apr. 2, “Proud to call myself a part of the @mlb family today,” adding, “@Morethanavote #BlackLivesMatter.”
Singer John Legend also commended MLB’s decision, and also pointed out claims that then Secretary of State Kemp — who oversaw elections — allegedly “stole” the 2018 gubernatorial election from Democrat Stacey Abrams. “Governor Kemp is a liar who had to cheat while overseeing his own race to attain his position. He’s learned that the best way to win elections is to rig the game. He’s being exposed as the underhanded anti-democratic operator he always has been. Thank you @MLB for taking a stand,” Legend tweeted on Apr. 2.
Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi immediately called out the Georgia voting law on Mar. 26 shortly after Kemp signed the bill:
Actor/Director Edward Norton called those behind SB202 “racists” in a tweet showing a photo of the white men who previously didn’t want to wear face masks during the threat of COVID-19, masked up to hide their faces as Gov. Kemp signed the controversial bill into law.
Actress and activist Alyssa Milano pointed out how it’s not just Georgia but numerous other Republican controlled statehouses that are looking to enact stricter voting laws, especially after the 2020 election saw previously red or swing states such as Georgia, Arizona and Nevada flip Democrat blue.
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus also pointed out how the GOP is introducing voter suppression bills in other states, after the Georgia election for president and their two open U.S. Senate seats went to Democrats in incredibly close races. She also linked out to mobilize.us which is providing information, virtual events and more in honor of “For the People Week of Action” taking place Apr. 5-9.