NEW: Tomorrow the Supreme Court will rehear a case that could let the GOP grab 19 new, safe U.S. House seats by gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
I wrote for @Slate about how the far-right justices seem ready to help Republicans lock in one party rule for decades. ⬇️
I wrote for @Slate about how the far-right justices seem ready to help Republicans lock in one party rule for decades. ⬇️
After a court found Louisiana’s congressional map violated the VRA by weakening Black voters’ power, the GOP legislature was ordered to draw a 2nd majority-Black district.
When they fixed the map, non-Black voters sued, saying fixing the discrimination was itself discrimination.
When they fixed the map, non-Black voters sued, saying fixing the discrimination was itself discrimination.
The argument's logic twists the 14th + 15th Amendments, created to protect voting rights, in an attempt to destroy them. It should've been laughed out of court.
But a lower court embraced it and an appeal was accepted by the Supreme Court.
But a lower court embraced it and an appeal was accepted by the Supreme Court.
Louisiana’s GOP officials + the plaintiffs who sued to overturn the discriminatory congressional map joined forces to urge the Supreme Court to overturn that ruling.
But months later, when the court ordered a rehearing, those same GOP officials completely reversed their stance.
But months later, when the court ordered a rehearing, those same GOP officials completely reversed their stance.
If the far-right justices side with Louisiana, they'd effectively eliminate Section 2 of the VRA, the main safeguard against racially discriminatory redistricting.
That would mean their Orwellian logic (fixing racial discrimination is discrimination) becomes the new normal.
That would mean their Orwellian logic (fixing racial discrimination is discrimination) becomes the new normal.
A new report from @FairFightAction + @BlackVotersMtr finds striking down Section 2 of the VRA could let Republicans grab 19 more safe U.S. House seats.
Full report: bit.ly/VRA-under-atta…
Full report: bit.ly/VRA-under-atta…
What we’re witnessing is part of a broader pattern.
Just like the Supreme Court stripped away reproductive rights by overturning Roe v. Wade, it’s now threatening to take away another foundational American freedom:
the freedom to be represented fairly.
Just like the Supreme Court stripped away reproductive rights by overturning Roe v. Wade, it’s now threatening to take away another foundational American freedom:
the freedom to be represented fairly.
The path forward is narrow, but it exists – and demands urgency.
The court has shown what it intends to do. The question now is how we will respond.
Read the full piece in @Slate for more details – and share to help spread the word. slate.com/news-and-polit…
Read the full piece in @Slate for more details – and share to help spread the word. slate.com/news-and-polit…
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