Before he leads the Los Angeles Lakers on a trip to Orlando to wrap up the NBA season, LeBron James is forming a voting rights group. In an interview with Jonathan Martin of The New York Times, James announced the “More Than a Vote” organization to help inspire voting in black American communities. With November’s election approaching, the initiative will aim to protect voting rights and help battle voting suppression.
According to Martin, The James led group will team up with other voting rights organizations like When We All Vote and Fair Fight. James and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter will provide the initial funding for the project.
Via The New York Times:
“Yes, we want you to go out and vote, but we’re also going to give you the tutorial,” James told The New York Times. “We’re going to give you the background of how to vote and what they’re trying to do, the other side, to stop you from voting.”
Along with a group of other athletes and entertainers, a member of the Golden State Warriors is getting involved. Draymond Green is slated to join James’ voting initiative. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Green will be involved with outreach in Saginaw and East Lansing, Michigan.
Together with James and Green, current and former NBA players will join the group, including Atlanta’s Trae Young, Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe, Miami’s Udonis Haslem, Stephen Jackson, Kendrick Perkins, Jalen Rose and Sam Perkins. WNBA stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Chiney Ogwumike are set to join with NFL running back Alvin Kamara and comedian Kevin Hart.
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