Individual Voters joined with Civil Rights and Faith Groups, including the Greater Birmingham Ministries, and the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, to File a Pair of Lawsuits Challenging Alabama’s Newly Drawn Political Maps for State Legislative and Congressional Districts.
Plaintiffs argue Alabama’s New State District Maps Violate the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, and its Congressional Map also Violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA).
“The lawsuits cite Alabama’s ‘sordid history’ of its white majority using racial discrimination to maintain power. The suits charge that the newly drawn congressional redistricting map denies Black residents equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect candidates of choice.”
Plaintiffs are being Represented by: the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); ACLU of Alabama; NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF); Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC); Hogan Lovells LLP; and the Firm Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfarb.
Plaintiffs are Requesting a Federal Court step in to Enjoin, or Halt, the Maps’ Implementation to Prevent Harms to Black Alabamians.
New Political Maps are Drawn as part of a Once-in-a-Decade Redistricting Process triggered by Census Data, that determine the Allocation of Political Power, Representation, and ultimately Resource Access at every Level of Government across the Country for the next 10 years.
“Cracking” refers to Splitting Communities of Color, into Different Districts, to Prevent them from Exercising Greater Political Power.
“Packing” refers to Placing People of Color, into the same District, in Greater numbers than Necessary, to Elect Candidates of Choice, to Prevent them from Exercising Greater Political Power in surrounding Districts.
According to the Lawsuits, Alabama’s steadfast Refusal to address the Rights of its Black Residents, is directly Linked to its Historical, and Present Conditions of Racial Discrimination against Black People.
In Five of the Six Redistricting Cycles since 1960, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) or Federal Courts have found that Alabama’s Legislative Districts, Congressional, State, or Both, Violate the Rights of Voters under the US Constitution or the Voting Rights Act.
Again, in this Latest Round of Drawing Political Districts, Alabamians had No Access to potential Maps during the so-called “Community Input” Process that Predated the Special Legislative Session.
Legislative Leaders Drew Political Maps in Secret, and at the 11th hour, presented the Maps Challenged Today, that use Race as a Predominant Factor in determining District Lines, but Not in a way tailored to Comply with the Voting Rights Act.
The Supreme Court said, No longer will they or the Federsl Courts, handle Gerrymandering Cases. So the Highest Court in a Stste will make the Final Decision on these type Cases.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
