In a sharply worded memo to employees of Delta Air Lines, the company’s CEO Ed Bastian railed against the new Georgia voting legislation signed into law last week calling it “unacceptable” and “based on a lie” of widespread fraud in last November’s election.
Bastian also said the new voting restrictions will make it harder for underrepresented voters, particularly Black voters, to exercise their constitutional right to elect representatives in the state.
“I need to make it crystal clear that the final bill is unacceptable and does not match Delta’s values,” Bastian wrote in the memo.
“After having time to now fully understand all that is in the bill, coupled with discussions with leaders and employees in the Black community, it’s evident that the bill includes provisions that will make it harder for many underrepresented voters, particularly Black voters, to exercise their constitutional right to elect their representatives. That is wrong,” Bastian wrote in the memo.
Don't Miss
“The entire rationale for this bill was based on a lie: that there was widespread voter fraud in Georgia in the 2020 elections. This is simply not true. Unfortunately, that excuse is being used in states across the nation that are attempting to pass similar legislation to restrict voting rights,” he wrote.
Bastian added that Delta will work with political leaders on the matter and is monitoring legislation in Congress to expand voting rights.
Delta has about 30,000 employees based in Georgia, most of whom live in metro Atlanta, which voted Democratic in the last elections.
“I know this result in Georgia has caused frustration, anger and pain for many members of our Delta family. I commit to you that as we move forward, Delta will do everything in our power to hear and protect your voice and your rights, both in Georgia and nationwide,” Bastian wrote in the memo.
The rebuking statement came as Delta and other Georgia companies faced threats of boycotts from opponents of voting restrictions who say local corporations like Delta should have done more to intercede when the Republican-backed legislation was being drafted.
Delta has about 30,000 employees based in Georgia, most of whom live in metro Atlanta, which voted Democratic in the last elections.
Read the entire memo below:
Here is @Delta memo from CEO on Georgia voting bill: “I need to make it crystal clear that the final bill is unacceptable… The entire rationale for this bill was based on a lie: that there was widespread voter fraud in Georgia in the 2020 elections. This is simply not true” pic.twitter.com/1KetMY6Ihh
— davidshepardson (@davidshepardson) March 31, 2021
