<p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5ed1cbc0f0f41937496e8153-2223/ap20146739773256.jpg" border="0" alt="Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms" data-mce-source="(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)" data-mce-caption="In this July 17, 2019, file photo, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks during a Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis on Capitol Hill in Washington. Neither public rivals nor personal friends, Bottoms and Stacey Abrams spent years climbing parallel ladders from nearby outposts at Atlanta City Hall and the Georgia Capitol.Now the Atlanta mayor and the former Georgia governor candidate find themselves at the same political intersection on Joe Biden's list of potential running mates."></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Friday said that Major League Baseball's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mlb-pulls-2021-all-star-game-from-georgia-voting-law-2021-4">decision to move</a> the All-Star Game out of Georgia over its controversial <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-lawmakers-pass-sweeping-election-administration-bill-2021-3">new voting law</a> is "likely" the start of more actions taken against the state.</p><p>While <a href="https://twitter.com/KeishaBottoms/status/1378072173366087680">speaking out</a> against the law on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/KeishaBottoms/status/1378109262178648064">Bottoms emphasized</a> the economic harm that such a backlash will cause throughout Georgia.</p><p>"Just as elections have consequences, so do the actions of those who are elected," she wrote. "Unfortunately, the removal of the MLB All Star game from GA is likely the 1st of many dominoes to fall, until the unnecessary barriers put in place to restrict access to the ballot box are removed."</p><p>She added: "Boycotts in GA will hit the metro Atlanta hardest and have a ripple effect across the state. Small businesses, corporations that support our communities, and everyday working people will suffer. It is not too late to right this sinking ship.</p><p>MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed on Friday that the decision to move the All-Star Game and MLB Draft was "the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport."</p><p>"Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box," <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1378067587108630531">he said in a statement</a>. "Fair access to voting continues to have our game's unwavering support."</p><p>Since the law's passage on March 25, major corporations, including Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-delta-home-depot-georgia-voting-rights-bill-activists-pressure-2021-3">under pressure</a> from politicians and activists, have more forcefully come out against its restrictive measures.</p><p>The conservative-backed law tightens election rules in the state by limiting drop boxes, strengthening voter identification requirements, blocking the usage of mobile voting vans, and even <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ga-voting-law-bans-volunteers-from-delivering-food-water-to-voters-2021-3">banning water and food from being distributed</a> to voters waiting in line, among other measures.</p><p>GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, who signed the bill into law, flatly rejects claims that it reinforces voter suppression and <a href="https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6246153816001#sp=show-clips">said</a> that the law makes it "easy to vote and hard to cheat."</p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong></em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/issues-that-could-tank-bidens-infrastructure-plan-congress-salt-taxes-2021-4"><em>Here are 9 hurdles Biden's infrastructure plan would have to overcome in Congress before it can become law</em></a></p><p>On Friday, the governor lashed out at MLB's decision on Fox News, <a href="https://video.foxnews.com/v/6246392075001#sp=show-clips">accusing the organization</a> of adhering to "cancel culture."</p><p>Kemp <a href="https://twitter.com/GovKemp/status/1378082793528430594">continued to express</a> his displeasure with the situation on Twitter, lashing out at prominent Democrats.</p><p>"This attack on our state is the direct result of repeated lies from [President] Joe Biden and [former Georgia state House Minority Leader] Stacey Abrams about a bill that expands access to the ballot box and ensures the integrity of our elections," he wrote. "I will not back down. Georgians will not be bullied. We will continue to stand up for secure, accessible, fair elections."</p><p>Abrams, who was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stacey-abrams-concedes-to-brian-kemp-in-the-georgia-governors-race-2018-11">narrowly defeated</a> by Kemp in the state's 2018 gubernatorial race and could potentially run against the incumbent governor in 2022, said on Friday that she was "disappointed" by the move but was "proud" of the MLB's support of voting rights.</p><p>"Like many Georgians, I am disappointed that the MLB is relocating the All-Star game; however, I commend the players, owners and League commissioner for speaking out," <a href="https://twitter.com/staceyabrams/status/1378086786598109193/photo/1">she said in a statement</a>. "As I have stated, I respect boycotts, although I don't want to see Georgia families hurt by lost events and jobs. Georgians targeted by voter suppression will be hurt as opportunities go to other states. We should not abandon the victims of GOP malice and lies - we must stand together."</p><p>Former President Barack Obama on Saturday <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1378331478380142593">praised</a> the decision, making a nod to the late baseball icon Hank Aaron, who faced racial threats throughout his professional baseball career.</p><p>"Congratulations to MLB for taking a stand on behalf of voting rights for all citizens," he wrote. "There's no better way for America's pastime to honor the great Hank Aaron, who always led by example."</p><p>As of Saturday, MLB has not revealed the new host city for the 2021 All-Star Game.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/atlanta-mayor-bottoms-mlb-all-star-game-georgia-voting-law-2021-4#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-planes-future-of-aviation-problems-regulations-2020-3">Why electric planes haven't taken off yet</a></p>
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