Thursday, immediately following the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling declaring the Alabama Legislature's congressional maps unconstitutional, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) appeared on CNN to declare the decision a win for "black Alabama voters."
According to Sewell, the ruling was "historic."
"This is so exciting," Sewell told CNN host Kate Bouldan. "It's really amazing. I think that this time we realize that justice delayed can also mean not justice denied. And so I just think it's really important that this is an amazing victory for black Alabama voters. It's for our democracy, for the Voting Rights Act. I've had the great honor of representing Alabama's seventh congressional district. It's my home district. It includes my hometown of Selma and Birmingham and Montgomery. And the legacy of this district is a legacy of ordinary Americans fighting for the equal right to vote, and to have the Supreme Court surprisingly give us this huge win. It's historic."
"What does this mean for Alabama today?" Bouldan asked. "I mean, we could look at what this could have meant for Alabama in '22, but what does this mean for Alabama in '24, congresswoman?"
"I think it means that we'll have a more equitable map. I mean, the reality is that African-Americans make up 27% of Alabama's population, and yet we only had one seat," Sewell replied. "And so I think that — I guess I'm reeling from this decision because it is such a surprise. But I was so happy that the justices saw the truth and the fact that that represents voter dilution and its black voter dilution. And I think this is a huge win, not just for Alabama, since everybody's looking at the Milligan case for map redrawing in North Carolina, in Ohio."
"I mean, everyone is looking at this decision," she continued. "And I think that it will have a ripple effect, a positive ripple effect. It means that minority dilution is not going to be tolerated by the Supreme Court or by any court in the land. And that is a huge victory. I know that John Lewis must be smiling because we got into some good trouble, some necessary trouble, and at the end of the day, right won out. And justice, while the moral arc of the universe is long, it definitely does bend towards justice."
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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