Georgia gov. not 'backing down' amid voting law protests

KEMP: “Yesterday, Major League Baseball caved to fear and lies from liberal activists.”

Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp on Saturday lambasted Major League Baseball’s decision to move this year’s draft and All-Star Game out of the state in protest over new voting restrictions.

MLB’s move comes as a growing number of major U.S. companies have joined forces in challenging Georgia’s Republican-backed voter law… one that added ID requirements for absentee ballots, shortened early voting periods for runoffs, and made it a misdemeanor to offer food and water to voters waiting in line.

Civil rights groups have filed lawsuits against Georgia’s restrictions - arguing the law suppresses voting among Black Americans and other racial minorities who tend to vote Democratic.

But Kemp on Saturday repeated his view that the new law makes elections more secure:

“Secure, accessible, fair elections are worth the threats. They are worth the boycotts as well as the lawsuits.” (flash) “I will not be backing down from this fight.”

MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred on Friday said the league made the decision after consulting with clubs as well as current and former players. And he said the league was finalizing plans for another city to host the All-Star Game.

But voting rights are not just a concern in Georgia… other Republican-controlled state legislatures - like Florida and Arizona - are pursuing voting restrictions too, based on Former President Donald Trump’s unfounded claim that he lost the election because of massive voter fraud.

KEMP: “This is a call to everyone, not only in Georgia but all across the country, to wake up and to get in the fight. And to help us in that fight. Because they are coming for you next. I mean what event, what sport are they going after now? What are they going to do if the Braves make the playoffs? They going to move the damn playoff game?”

Voting rights groups aren’t backing down either - vowing to keep up the pressure on any state seeking to limit access to the ballot box.