Out-of-state members of Congress, activists, union organizers and progressive social media influencers descended on Montgomery on Saturday for the "All Roads Lead to the South" event to decry the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which limited drawing congressional lines based solely on race.
Speaker after speaker, some from behind bulletproof glass, rallied the crowd, calling this moment the next chapter of the Civil Rights Movement and demanding that gerrymandered congressional districts like those of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) remain untouched despite the SCOTUS decision.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) was among The Squad members who spoke at the event.
"Some Republicans would rather Black Americans pick cotton than pick their Congressperson," Pressley wrote across a post to her social media accounts that called the Supreme Court "extremist," and called for court packing.
In a separate video with Sewell, she said that redistricting in light of the SCOTUS decision was an "attack on black power and black voters."
Pastor Jamal Bryant of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta gave a fiery speech, which was streamed live on hid churches Youtube page.
"Today is the death of the confederacy," he repeated twice. "They're trying to redraw our lines. They're trying to silence our voices."
"If you can't give us reparations, the least you can do is give us our representatives."
Angela Rye, a former executive director and general counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus and prominent podcaster, gave an interview to The Root from the event.
Rye explained how there was a sense of complacency in the black community after former President Barack Obama was elected. "People thought we had arrived, they didn't realize that was the tide change and that these folks did not want to ever share power with us."
"They started with congressional maps. They want state maps next. When they take SNAP benefits away from our people, when they cut Medicare from our people and Medicaid from our people and theirs, they're hoping that there will be violence. Mass violence in the streets means mass incarcerations. Their friends will get rich on our backs, and there we are, back at free labor. That's where we're headed," Rye went on to explain.
Event organizers said that buses came from as far as Ohio to attend. Members of Congress recognized by Sewell included Democrats from Nevada, New Mexico, Maryland and Rhode Island.
Speakers condemned governors and legislatures around the South.
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