The guard
Ilhan Omar disagrees with Stacey Abrams over boycott of the Georgia All-Star Game
Omar supports MLB’s move to relocate the game while Abrams fears families will be hurt from lost events and jobs March 31. Photo: Nikolas Liepins / REX / Shutterstock Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar backed Major League Baseball’s decision to reschedule its all-star game due to restrictive new Georgia electoral law. In doing so, however, she came into conflict with another leading progressive, suffrage campaigner Stacey Abrams. Abrams, who suffered a narrow defeat in the Georgia gubernatorial race in 2018, praised the MLB’s decision on Friday but said she was disappointed that the game would be postponed. “I respect boycotts,” she said, “although I don’t want families in Georgia to be hurt by lost events and jobs.” Georgians affected by electoral repression are injured when opportunities arise for other states. We shouldn’t abandon the victims of [Republican] Malice and lies – we must stand together. “On Saturday, the PGA Tour and the PGA of America made similar arguments when they said they would not postpone the events scheduled for Georgia this summer. Perhaps the biggest golf event, the Masters begins this week in Augusta, Georgia. Many observers question the accepted wisdom that big sporting events bring economic benefits, but on Sunday, at CNN State of the Union, Omar was asked if she agreed with Abrams. “We know boycotts have made it possible to spread justice in many areas,” said Omar. “The civil rights movement was rooted in boycotts. We know that apartheid ended in South Africa because of boycotts. “So we hope that this boycott will lead to changes in the law because we understand that if you restrict people’s ability to vote, you are creating a democracy that is not fully functional for all of us and we should continue to be one Beacon of hope for all democracies around the world, we have to assert ourselves. “Conservatives have protested the MLB’s decision to take away the Georgia All-Star game. On Friday, Trump told supporters to “boycott baseball” in return. Georgian law includes restrictions on early voting and mail-in voting, measures that are likely to affect minority participation. Republicans have countered Democratic protests by saying the law is simply trying to avoid electoral fraud, which Donald Trump said was widespread in Georgia and elsewhere when he was defeated by Joe Biden – a lie that has been repeatedly laughed out of court. Omar was asked whether other states that do not even allow early voting or postal voting should review their own laws. “You definitely should,” she said. “I mean, Minnesota isn’t # 1 in terms of turnout and participation because we are special when we are. That’s because we made the vote accessible to the people. And it’s really important that every single state review their electoral laws and make sure that voting is open to all. “Omar also referred to pending federal laws designed to counter the Republican-led states. The For the People Act, technically known as HR1, passed the House, but it’s unlikely to get the 50:50 Senate passed unless Democrats reform or take off the filibuster, after which bills get 60 votes need to say goodbye. “It will also be very important for us to continue advancing HR1,” said Omar [voting] accessible nationwide and strengthens our democracy. “