Stacey Abrams urged MLB adviser to keep All-Star Game in Georgia: report

Georgia voting rights activist and former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams urged Major League Baseball to keep its All-Star Game in Atlanta after the state passed a new restrictive voting law, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein.

In a Twitter thread, Bluestein shared that Abrams spoke with a MLB senior adviser, and recommended against pulling the game out of the Peach State.

I’m told that @staceyabrams spoke to an @MLB senior adviser and “strongly” urged the league to keep the All-Star game in Atlanta before the decision to yank the event. She also argued against a boycott before MLB’s move in a @USATODAY op-ed and @AJC interview last week. #gapol

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) April 7, 2021

Abrams, a strong opponent of the recently passed law, reportedly maintained her position that boycotts over the voting law were not necessary.

MLB decided to move forward with its decision to change the summer exhibition game’s location, however, announcing the move last week.

After MLB released its statement on pulling the game from Atlanta, Abrams expressed her disappointment over the news. She commended the players, owners and the league commissioner for “speaking out” about the law, but shared her fear that the boycotts would hurt the state economically

“As I have stated, I respect boycotts, although I don’t want to see Georgia families hurt by lost events and jobs,” Abrams said. “Georgians targeted by voter suppression will be hurt as opportunities go to other states.”

Many Republicans, including former President Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, have slammed MLB over the move. Multiple corporations have joined MLB in their expressing condemnation over the law, however, including Coca-Cola and Delta Air Lines.