As lawmakers converge at the Montgomery State House to prepare to address the state's congressional maps, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is mobilizing citizens to the Capitol to "demand fair representation" in the proposed redistricting process.
Last week's U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in Louisiana v. Callais threw a wrench into American politics. In a 6-3 majority decision, SCOTUS found race-based redistricting unconstitutional. The ruling will likely have major implications for congressional maps across the country, especially in Alabama, with primary elections mere weeks away.
A federally appointed special master drew a map for the State to use in the 2024 election, and the State remains under a court order prohibiting the use of new congressional maps until after the 2030 Census. However, Attorney General Steve Marshall filed emergency motions with SCOTUS after the Callais decision, and Gov. Kay Ivey announced a special session to redraw the maps starting Monday.
In a release, the NAACP stated that it would host a march and a rally, calling on residents to "show up, speak out, and demand that lawmakers draw maps that reflect the true diversity of the state's population."
"The Supreme Court's ruling removed a key tool used for decades to challenge discriminatory redistricting maps, leaving states like Alabama – where nearly 27% of the population is Black but only one of seven congressional districts is majority-Black – poised to further dilute Black voting power," the NAACP stated.
The federal government has hampered the Alabama Legislature's ability to draw its own congressional map after the 2020 census. Federal courts quashed the map lawmakers passed in 2021, claiming it likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by its perceived lack of black representation. Lawmakers passed another congressional map in 2023 to assuage the court's concerns, which was similarly rejected for the same reasons.
The NAACP's stated demands for lawmakers are as follows:
- Draw fair, non-discriminatory maps that provide black Alabamians an equal opportunity to elect candidates of choice.
- Reject any attempts to further dilute black voting power in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.
- Commit to transparency and community input throughout the redistricting process.
Marshall's court challenges would have to be successful before the legislature could approve any reapportioned map.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning
