LeBron James Pays Fines for Ex-Felons to Give Them Voting Rights

NBA superstar, LeBron James, in collaboration with other Black athletes and entertainers started an organization that empowers the black community. The group announced on Friday that it will help Floridian ex-felons pay outstanding felony fees to help them become eligible to participate in the November election.

The organization, More Than A Vote said it will pay $100,000 to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition’s fund.

“This is a fight about their constitutional right to vote being denied,” said LeBron James in a tweet on Friday.

“We believe that your right to vote shouldn’t depend upon whether or not you can pay to exercise it,” said Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat forward and a member of More Than A Vote. “Which is why More Than A Vote is proud to partner with Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to ensure that formerly incarcerated American citizens—many of them Black and Brown—are able to pay their outstanding fines and fees and register to vote in the 2020 election and beyond.”

The executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition described the partnership as one that “will improve lives and strengthen our democracy.”

“FRRC is thrilled to partner with More Than A Vote to help Florida’s returning citizens pay off their fines and fees, complete their sentence, and move forward with their lives.”

More Than A Vote was formed in June, following the death of George Floyd, which sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. The organization aims at protecting Black voting rights. Members of the More Than A Vote include NBA stars, LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Trae Young; WNBA star Skylar Diggins-Smith; and NBA commentator Jalen Rose, amongst others.

In addition, More Than A Vote in collaboration with Magnolia Pictures and Participant will be hosting an online screening of John Lewis: Good Trouble, a documentary that portrays the life of the late civil rights icon and US congressman. Proceeds from the online screening will be directed to Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

The organization also has a partnership with Fair Fight, an organization started by Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams that also advocates fair elections.

With the constitutional amendment that passed in November 2018, over one million Floridians that previously had felony convictions had their voting rights restored to them. Amendment 4 allowed convicted felons who complete “all terms of sentence” voting rights.

Amendment 4 went into effect in January 2019, after which the GOP-led Florida Legislature and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis passed and signed a bill that clearly stated “all terms of sentence”, including other legal obligations such as fines, fees, and restitution.

LeBron James has contributed a lot to the black society, and it will be a happy moment for him of these people go out and vote on election day.

When is the 2020 election date?

The 2020 election date is Tuesday, November 3, 2020