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Nine major sports unions join forces to oppose U.S. state voting restrictions

Published 05/03/2021, 11:38 AM
Updated 05/03/2021, 12:40 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Protest against House Bill 531 in Atlanta

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Protest against House Bill 531 in Atlanta

(Reuters) - Nine major U.S. sports unions joined together on Monday to declare their opposition to state legislative efforts restricting the right to vote.

A number of voting rights groups say the restrictions passed by Georgia, and being weighed in Texas and Arizona among other states, target Black people and other racial minorities.

The statement was co-signed by the National Basketball Players Association, the Basketball Players Union, Major League Soccer Players Association, National Football League Players Association, and the United States Women's National Team Players Association along with players' bodies representing elite-level women's ice hockey, soccer and basketball.

The Republican-backed Georgia law strengthened identification requirements for absentee ballots, shortened early voting periods for runoffs and made it a misdemeanor for members of the public to offer food and water to voters waiting in line.

The sports unions said they were joining hundreds of individuals and corporations in taking a 'Stand for Democracy'.

"As Americans, we know that in our democracy we should not expect to agree on everything," the statement read https://nbpa.com/news/professional-sports-unions-come-together-to-oppose-new-voting-restrictions.

"However, regardless of our political affiliations, we believe the very foundation of our electoral process rests upon the ability of each of us to cast our ballots for the candidates of our choice.

"We should all feel a responsibility to defend the right to vote and to oppose any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot."

The other groups are the National Women's Hockey League Players' Association, National Women's Soccer League Players Association, Professional Women's Hockey League Players Association, and Women's National Basketball Players Association.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Protest against House Bill 531 in Atlanta

The Major League Baseball Players Association was not among the co-signatories but the sport's governing body last month took a stand against new voting restrictions in Georgia by relocating its 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta.

Latest comments

Well, that does it.  If the "Professional Women's Hockey League Players Association" is against it, the law doesn't stand a chance. All of their fans, all 250 of them, will be marching.
250 more than you have.
Professional sports couldn't fill stadiums pre China virus year. Only a few NFL teams can get a full stadium. They are never coming back. PGA is about all thats breaking even
Are there any lies told by Trump that you would not believe? He could shoot someone in Times Square and not lose a follower...sounds like a cult to me. Being "woke" is just not being a *****
ID is only needed for absentee votes. Short term for runnofs and ID,  means democrats cannot dump needed absentee votes into the system after they know the results. Simple as that.
Lefty / commie Chris needs to go back to doing his solo “cummins” in his parent’s basement. Her / his ignorant, inflamatory opinions are just ignored as anti-american leftist propoganda spam. Wasting your time Chrissy.
This article repeats the lies about Georgia’s voter integrity laws. For example, campaign members cannot give out freebees to people in line, but the general piblic can.
Agree 100%. Finally a voice of reason.
unions are cancer
I’d be happy if they all go on strike.
LOL
Jesus was not rich but since he was GOP could he grab women by the p@ssy too?
yawn
Can Mitch just wear his pointy hood on the Senate floor. Honesty is what the GOP needs.
Is the NEW GOP just the Klan...not in disguise?
sports should stick to sports. no politics!
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