Thread by @newsobserver

Over the past several weeks, we sent reporters and photographers to some of the places in North Carolina where political lines are said to disenfranchise voters the most. Here's what they found 👇(1/10)

#ncpol #ncga
newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing district boundary lines to benefit a political party or group. Politicians decide the lines. And the lines decide who gets to vote for which politicians. (2/10)

Many of the places where gerrymandering is most apparent in 2019 are also places with a history of racial strife: From Wilmington and a bloody white supremacist coup in 1898 to Greensboro and the Woolworth's sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement. #ncpol (3/10)

Another gerrymandered dividing line runs through the heart of the historically black @ncatsuaggies. Under the maps used to determine who represents NC in the U.S. House of Representatives, the university is split in two. (4/10)

Some of the people we interviewed said gerrymandering leads to non-competitive elections, and politicians who only play to their base.

"People don’t feel like they’re represented, to the point where they don’t even want to vote anymore," one man told us (5/10)

Advocates for #FairMaps sued NC over our political maps. One of those cases just ended at the Supreme Court, in a loss for reformers. Another is still in state court. Outside of court, the #NCGA could also consider a constitutional amendment (6/10) bit.ly/2KyKCvg

Some Republicans say Democratic critics of gerrymandering are hypocrites, since they did it for 100+ years: "Gerrymandering is the law of the land and the law says the prevailing party draws the maps. It doesn’t say you draw them to help the other side.” #ncpol (7/10)

Republicans say gerrymandering isn't some all-powerful force. They took over the #NCGA on Democrat-drawn maps. And still today, Republican @SenDannyBritt is in a district that's mostly Democratic. He told us, "I think that the right candidate can win almost anywhere." (8/10)

Democrats say Republicans have gerrymandered more extremely than they ever did, and are making gerrymandering reform a political priority. Even @EricHolder and @BarackObama, via @DemRedistrict and @allontheline, are getting involved. (9/10)
newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

Our staff have been tireless in their coverage of gerrymandering in NC. If you value the work we’ve done, consider subscribing so we can continue covering our community. We can’t do it without your help. #ReadLocal (10/10) nando.com/willd