ALPHARETTA, Georgia – Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia says he strongly supports the Atlanta Braves keeping their name.
"The Braves are the Braves. They need to keep chopping," Kemp emphasized on Tuesday when asked if Major League Baseball’s World Series champions should change their name as part of the ongoing argument over the longtime use of Native American names in professional and collegiate sports.
Kemp was questioned during a Fox News Digital interview ahead of a gubernatorial re-election rally in Alpharetta, Georgia with GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia.
The Braves’ name and the team’s accompanying tomahawk logo have long come under criticism as offensive to Native Americans. For decades during baseball games, Braves fans have performed a tomahawk chop with their arms while chanting a battle cry.
The controversy was back in the national spotlight on Monday, as the world champions visited with President Biden at the White House. While President Biden made no mention of the controversy as he greeted the Braves, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters "we believe it’s important to have this conversation. Native American and Indigenous voices, they should be at the center of the conversation."
Kemp took aim at the Biden administration, charging that "for them [the Braves] to be celebrated at the White House yesterday and then the president’s administration talk about changing the name is ridiculous. The Braves have a great repour with the Native Indian community in the state. They’ve actually been in the governor’s office. We’ve met with them before….we don’t need the cancel culture that this White House has had."
The governor also criticized Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams over the controversy, claiming that "there really just trying to mislead and divide people up in Washington unfortunately and my opponent Stacey Abrams has been right there with them, even though she won’t take a position on what the Braves’ name should be. But I will. I think it should be the Braves. Let’s go Braves. Keep chopping. Let’s get two in a row."
Asked for a response, Abrams campaign spokesperson Alex Floyd told Fox News that "Abrams is thrilled to cheer on the Braves and is rooting for the team’s success as they work to bring home another title to Georgia. Unfortunately, it’s become clear that rather than just cheering on the Braves, Republicans are engaging in bad faith attacks to distract from the fact they haven’t brought down health care costs, fully funded public education, or provided immediate tax cuts for hardworking families. Stacey Abrams will go to bat for all Georgians — on and off the field."... (Read more)
Submitted 547 days ago
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