LeBron James lent serious star power to the voting rights organization he helped establish. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar narrated a new video from More Than A Vote, the group he formed with several other high-profile Black athletes last year.
The video specifically targets the state of Georgia, which incidentally is hosting the 2021 NBA All-Star Game this weekend in Atlanta. Further, it centers around Republican-led efforts to pass legislation that aims to restrict voter access.
Georgia was one of the major epicenters of the 2020 election, with Joe Biden flipping the state and two Democrats winning Senate races in a subsequent runoff elections.
In a video featuring powerful imagery and footage from Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and the D.C. riots in January, James states that “every trick in the book” is being utilized to restrict or deny Black Americans the right to vote, something his narration suggests is “attacking democracy itself.”
“Look what we did. Look what we made happen. What our voices made possible,” James says as images and video of activism ahead of the 2020 elections plays, as transcribed by CNN. “And now, look what they’re trying to do to silence us. Using every trick in the book. And attacking democracy itself. Because they saw what we’re capable of and they fear it.”
He adds: “So this isn’t the time to put your feet up or to think posting hashtags and black squares is enough. Because for us, this was never about one election. It’s always been More Than A Vote. It’s a fight that’s just getting started. And we’ve been ready. You with us?”
The new spot follows another provocative video from More Than A Vote that James shared in January in the aftermath of the Capitol riots.
James is perhaps the most socially and politically active athlete of this or any other era. In fact, James was named Time’s Athlete of the Year in 2020 precisely for his activism.
Interestingly enough, the video comes just after current AC Milan player and former L.A. Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic argued James is making a “mistake” by being so outspoken on issues and topics outside of basketball. James unsurprisingly swatted away such a notion.
Given James will give absolutely not give consideration to the notion he should “shut up and dribble,” the Lakers star’s voice and influence obviously will continue to play a huge role in advancing More Than A Vote’s mission to protect the voting rights of Black Americans.
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