Texas Gov. Abbott refuses to throw Rangers' first pitch after MLB moves All-Star Game in voting rights protest

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is refusing to throw the first pitch at the Texas Rangers' opening home game on Monday in protest at the MLB.
• MLB has moved the 2021 All-Star game from Atlanta, Georgia due to a controversial new voting bill there.
• Abbott accused Major League Baseball of "perpetuating false political narratives" over the law.
• Civil rights groups say the bill amounts to voter suppression, particularly of Black and other ethnic minority voters.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would refuse to throw the first pitch at the Texas Rangers' opening home game on Monday after accusing Major League Baseball of "perpetuating false political narratives" over Georgia's controversial new voting laws.

"I was looking forward to throwing out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers' home opening game until
MLB adopted what has turned out to be a false narrative about Georgia's election law reforms," Abbott said in a tweet Monday.

"It is shameful that America's pastime is being influenced by partisan politics," he said.

Abbott was referring to MLB's decision to move the 2021 All-Star game from Atlanta, Georgia, after the state passed a law in March which civil rights groups said amounted to voter suppression, particularly of Black and other ethnic minority voters.

Major League Baseball on Friday announced that it would move its 2021 All-Star Game from Georgia as a result.

"Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views," said Commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement.

"I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year's All-Star Game and MLB Draft.

"Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box."

President Joe Biden had said previously that he would support the decision to move the game out of Georgia.

"I think today's professional athletes are acting incredibly responsibly," he told ESPN.

Biden had described the law, which overhauled virtually all of Georgia's voting laws, as "Jim Crow on steroids."

Gov. Brian Kemp, who signed the bill into law, pushed back on that characterization, saying it expanded voter access.