Calls for a Home Depot boycott over GA voting laws

Black religious leaders in Georgia representing more than 1,000 churches called on Tuesday for a boycott of Home Depot, accusing the home improvement giant of failing to take a stand against the state's new Republican-backed curbs on voting.

[Bishop Reginald Jackson, April 13, 2021] "This is not a partisan issue, this is an issue of preserving our democracy."

Bishop Reginald Jackson, who oversees Georgia's African Methodist Episcopal churches, said in a statement that Home Depot had rejected requests to discuss the new law.

Adding (quote):

"If you as corporate leaders do not believe and lack the courage to speak out against this legislation, we will not spend our money to purchase your products,"

Other Georgia-based corporations, including Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola, have sat down with activists and issued statements opposing the voting restrictions.

The backlash began after Georgia legislation imposed new requirements for absentee ballots, restricted drop boxes and barred people from offering food and water to voters waiting in line.

Republican lawmakers in numerous states have used former President Donald Trump's false claims of voter fraud to back state-level voting changes they say are needed to restore election integrity.

Opponents argue the laws disproportionately harm minority voters.

Home Depot said on Tuesday it believes "all elections should be accessible, fair and secure and support broad voter participation" and that it would "continue to work to ensure our associates in Georgia and across the country have the information and resources to vote."

More than 100 U.S. companies, including Apple, Amazon, Ford Motor Co and Starbucks, have declared their opposition to new voting limits.

Even Major League Baseball pulled its All-Star Game from Atlanta, citing Georgia's legislation.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp on Tuesday defended the law, telling reporters it will make balloting more secure while expanding weekend early voting.