MONTGOMERY — Representatives from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and other civil rights organizations across the state converged on the Montgomery State House to protest as lawmakers started the process of potentially redrawing the state's congressional map.
Governor Kay Ivey called the legislative special session late last week amid pressure for the state to address the issue following a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision.
The 6-3 majority 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, which started Monday.
An hour before lawmakers gaveled in for the special session, dozens of protesters from multiple advocacy organizations, including Alabama Arise and Black Voters Matter, were calling for reciprocal chants from attendees, urging them to "vote" and "fight back."
"The decision opened the door of our power," said Black Voters Matter organizer Dee Reed. "Where politicians will try to redraw maps. They are going to try, but the people ain't going to let them. Politicians will try to silence our voice. They [are] going to try, but the people not going to let them."
Also in attendance was Tafeni English-Relf, the director of the SPLC's Alabama State Office.
The SPLC was recently federally indicted on 11 counts, including wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and money laundering.
"They want us to believe the battle for black political power is over; it is not," English-Relf said. "Our power has never come from asking for permission. They want us to retreat in silos, but we aren't backing down. They want us to be divided, but we are going to be united."
She continued, "Let me be clear about what's at stake. When the power of black voters is diluted, it is a direct attack on our ability to shape our schools [and] our healthcare. Look at how many rural hospitals that have closed in rural Alabama. Our Housing; we are living in housing that isn't habitable." "… Our water infrastructure is at stake. Our economic mobility is at stake. This is not about one or two districts. This is about the people."
Metro Montgomery NAACP director Isaiah Sankey also spoke at length about the need for community activism, drawing on the civil rights struggles in past decades.
"The fight is not over," Sankey said. "We must keep punching, keep moving, fight smart, and we will win."
He continued, "Alabama didn't know what was best for all of us during the period of racial terror when folks were being lynched every other day. Alabama didn't know what was good for us when the violent overthrow of Reconstruction resulted in terror and chaos in the communities. Alabama did not know what was good for all of us when we experienced the humiliation from the segregated buses right here in Montgomery, Alabama."
The rally endured for the better part of three hours, leaving dozens still swarming the steps of the State House as lawmakers departed in their vehicles.
The Alabama Legislature gaveled in briefly to begin the special session. However, no real progress is expected until after lawmakers meet on Tuesday.
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