NAACP Urges Pro Athletes Not to Sign With Texas Teams Over Voting and Abortion Laws

The NAACP is urging athletes in major sports to consider not signing with professional teams in Texas in response to the state’s voting and abortion laws and its ban on mask requirements.

Leaders of the NAACP issued an open letter Thursday to players associations for the NBA, NFL, WNBA, MLB and NHL.

The NAACP leaders called Texas’ laws “a blueprint by legislators to violate constitutional rights for all,” and asked free agents to reconsider moving their families to a state that is “not safe for anyone.”

{snip}

“When all else fails, we must look within and answer the call to protect the basic human rights and democratic values which are fundamental to this country,” said NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson. {snip}

“If you are a woman, avoid Texas. If you are Black, avoid Texas. If you want to lower your chances of dying from coronavirus, avoid Texas,” Johnson continued in the letter.

{snip}

Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that enacts several restrictions on voting.

The provisions include: banning Texans from registering to vote using a post office box as their address, banning drive-thru voting, and restricting applications for a mail-in ballot for medical reasons.

{snip}

There are nine major professional teams across Texas: the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets; the WNBA’s Dallas Wings; the NFL’s Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys; the MLB’s Texas Rangers and Houston Astros; and the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

{snip}