Corporations, national and international, are on notice to denounce restrictive GOP voting bills or face a boycott beginning April 7.
African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Reginald T. Jackson leads the effort. He, along with scores of faith leaders, and voting rights groups, say restrictive voting measures in Georgia and 42 other states, make it harder for people to vote, especially people of color.
They say that the right to vote is important, and companies need to take a stronger stance to protect that right.
Bishop Jackson, who leads more than 500 congregations of the AME 6th District of Georgia, says they're trying to have a meeting Tuesday with "corporate heads across
the country. We'll see how that goes." Otherwise, Jackson says "we'll be holding a press conference on Wednesday to discuss this matter."
"This legislation was in reaction to the November election", which according to Jackson, "was based on a lie." Jackson points to then-President Trump's claim that the election
was stolen from him and that it needed to be thrown out. "They sponsored this legislation", adds Jackson "in the name of trying to restore voting integrity." He says there's no problem
with voting integrity, but rather with people "who won't accept the truth."
Coca Cola, Delta, and other companies have recently come out against the law recently signed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who defends the measure as "protection against voter fraud."
More than 70 black leaders of major corporations have spoken out against the measures in states, and urged other companies to follow suit.
While the faith leaders focused their efforts primarily on corporations, rather than athletics and entertainment, Jackson says he's not surprised that MLB pulled its AllStar game from Georgia.
According to Jackson, "It says to the political leadership of Georgia that the eyes of the nation are on Georgia, and that Georgia has to do better."