LeBron James backs effort to prevent U.S. black vote suppression
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[June 11, 2020]
By Trevor Hunnicutt
(Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron
James is starting a group with other black celebrities to work to
prevent the suppression of the African-American vote, a person familiar
with the matter said on Wednesday.
James' group, More Than a Vote, will be focused on educating and
protecting black voters as well as energizing more to show up at the
polls for the Nov. 3 U.S. elections, according to the person who
declined to speak publicly about the campaign.
"We feel like we're getting some ears and some attention, and this is
the time for us to finally make a difference," James told the New York
Times, which first reported the news.
James and other celebrities expected to participate - including
basketball player Trae Young, comedian Kevin Hart and businessman
Maverick Carter - will use their social media presence to provide
information to voters.
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Their plan comes at a time when Americans are concerned about foreign
interference in elections, the novel coronavirus has raised questions
about voting safely and activist groups are worried about voter
suppression.
"There will be an active campaign of suppression," according to the
person familiar with James' efforts. "These athletes are the most
trusted members of their communities."
Apathy, online disinformation campaigns and efforts to restrict voting
rights have been blamed for lower black participation in the 2016
elections.
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![](../images/061120pics/news_I23.jpg)
Basketball player LeBron James arrives on the red carpet for the
film "The Carter Effect" at the Toronto International Film Festival
(TIFF), in Toronto, Canada, September 9, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File
Photo
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On Tuesday, many people waited for hours to vote in person during
Georgia's tumultuous primary elections, especially in counties with
large black populations in and around Atlanta, where dozens of
polling stations closed due to coronavirus concerns.
James was among a number of high-profile athletes who spoke out
after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed last
month after being seen lying face down in the street while a white
police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. The incident
led to protests worldwide.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in New York; Editing by Robert
Birsel)
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