Left-wing Hollywood celebrities are giving high-fives and high praise in response to the NBA’s decision to turn some of its sports arenas into polling locations for the November election, allowing for more people to vote in-person.
The voter initiative is part of a deal that the NBA has made with its striking athletes who are protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Millionaire basketball players demanded the concession before they agreed to resume the playoffs on Saturday. The deal means that some franchise-owned arenas will be converted into polling places on November 3 “to allow for a safe in-person voting option for communities vulnerable” to the coronavirus pandemic, said NBA executive director Michele Roberts and NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement.
Teams that have reportedly signed up for the voter push include the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, and Milwaukee Bucks.
Hollywood stars are crowing their approval of the agreement. What the NBA arena polling place aspect of the agreement would mean for the push for mail-in voting and in-person voting amid the coronavirus pandemic remains to be seen. Still, left-wing celebrities including Rob Reiner, Mark Ruffalo, John Leguizamo, and Sarah Silverman have publicly backed the NBA’s deal with striking players.
Rob Reiner praised the NBA, saying “They are in the fight to stop the madness.”
Actors Mark Ruffalo and Bradley Whitford described the deal as “incredible.”
Comedian Sarah Silverman tweeted her approval, noting that “where our elected leaders fail, new leaders emerge.”
Actor Michael Ian Black called the agreement a “slam dunk.”
Actor John Leguizamo expressed his love for the NBA after the announcement.
Actors Debra Messing, Patton Oswalt, and Adam Goldberg all poured on the praise for the NBA’s move.
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