Stacey Abrams hammers Kemp after Atlanta music festival cancellation tied to Georgia gun laws

Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams slams incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp following reports that the cancellation of Music Midtown, an annual music festival in Atlanta, was due to permissive state laws. Georgia on guns.

In an exclusive statement provided to Fox News Digital, Abrams accused Kemp of putting her views on guns ahead of the Georgian economy and criticized her for the loss of jobs and investments she has said that the state would have obtained thousands of people expected. the festival.

“Brian Kemp is putting a dangerous gun agenda ahead of Georgia’s economy and job growth,” Abrams said in the statement. “Once again, the best interests of Georgians are trumping Kemp’s political ambitions – and our state is being forced to pay the price at a rate of $50 million lost from our economy.”

“Georgians deserve leadership that will work hard to combat rising crime rates and implement common sense gun safety proposals while protecting our state’s economic growth,” she said. added. “Kemp may only think about the needs of his right-wing base, but as governor, I will work hard to protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians.”

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Organizers of the festival scheduled for September announced on Monday that it would be canceled but did not provide a reason.

“Hi Midtown fans – due to circumstances beyond our control, Music Midtown will no longer be taking place this year. We were looking forward to reuniting in September and hope that we can all enjoy the festival together again soon,” reads -on in a press release. posted on the festival’s Twitter account.

A number of outlets, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reported that the cancellation was due to fears of a possible lawsuit over the event banning guns on public grounds, which some have suggested could not be permitted under current Georgia law.

Legislation signed into law by then-Republican Governor Nathan Deal in 2014 allowed the carrying of firearms on public lands, including Piedmont Park, the site of the festival, raising questions about whether the event was authorized to prevent participants from carrying a firearm.

Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., speaks during election night after winning the nomination to be the Republican nominee for governor on May 24, 2022, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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The Kemp campaign did not return Fox News Digital’s request for comment, however, a close ally of the governor pointed to growing suggestions that the festival was canceled due to low ticket sales rather than a related reason. state gun laws.