Major corporations based in Georgia and two of Atlanta’s professional sports teams made very strong condemnations of the voter suppression law hastily signed into law last week without any public comment or hearings, the Washington Post reports.
“Last week, the Georgia legislature passed a sweeping voting reform act that could make it harder for many Georgians, particularly those in our Black and Brown communities, to exercise their right to vote,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in a Wednesday memo to employees. “The entire rationale for this bill was based on a lie: that there was widespread voter fraud in Georgia in the 2020 elections. This is simply not true. Unfortunately, that excuse is being used in states across the nation that are attempting to pass similar legislation to restrict voting rights.”
James Quincey, the CEO of Coca-Cola, a major employer in Georgia and a feather in the cap of corporate culture in the state, said in an interview, “Let me be crystal clear and unequivocal. This legislation is unacceptable. It is a step backward and it does not promote principles we have stood for in Georgia around broad access to voting, around voter convenience, about ensuring election integrity.”
The Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA also condemned the law, using their positions as major attractions in the city to voice their opposition.
“The right to vote is the most fundamental citizen’s right and we at the Hawks view ourselves as a civic asset — not a partisan organization — and remain committed to endorsing steps that promote equality and encourage participation by all who seek to cast a ballot,” Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler said in a statement Wednesday.
Georgia is facing a major backlash after the law was rushed through the legislature and signed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp in about 24 hours. Major League Baseball has announced it will investigate options for hosting its All-Star Game, which was slated for Truist Park in Atlanta.