In response to a highly controversial voting law recently passed by the state of Georgia, multiple civil rights groups have called for a boycott of Georgia-based companies such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and others. Some groups are now calling for The Masters to move as a show of solidarity with the civil rights movement.
One such group, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) released a statement on Friday calling for the PGA Tour and The Masters to essentially put their money where their mouth is. The NBJC has asked that the golf major speak out in opposition to the laws and take decisive action.
“The PGA Tour and Masters Tournament have both made commitments to help diversify golf and address racial inequities in this country – and we expect them to not only speak out against Georgia’s new racist voter suppression law – but to also take action,” the NBJC said in a statement. “To that end, the National Black Justice Coalition is calling on the PGA Tour and Masters Tournament to pull the upcoming championship event from the Augusta National Golf Course. Professional golfers should refuse to play in Georgia until the racist voter suppression law is repealed.”
The Masters isn’t technically run by the PGA even though it’s a PGA Tour event. The tournament is organized by the Augusta National Golf Club itself, so the message would have to be directed at Augusta, not the PGA.