Alabama GOP accused of disregarding Supreme Court by Democrats with new congressional map.
Alabama Democrats Accuse Republicans of Ignoring Supreme Court Ruling
Alabama Democrats are accusing Republicans of disregarding a recent Supreme Court ruling with the latest congressional map.
Republicans were instructed to redraw congressional districts after the Supreme Court upheld a federal court ruling that required them to create at least two districts with a majority black population or close to it. This demographic tends to vote overwhelmingly Democratic. However, Republicans are set to establish only one black-majority district, leading Democrats to argue that the party is defying the recent Supreme Court ruling.
Outcry Led by Left-Wing Groups
Several left-wing groups have spearheaded the outcry against this decision.
“Alabama Republicans are intentionally drawing political retention maps at the expense of black Alabamians — in defiance of the Supreme Court and the Alabama district court. It is a continuation of the state’s long, sordid history of disenfranchising black voters,” Marina Jenkins, the executive director of the National Redistricting Foundation, told NBC News.
Jenkins has pledged to challenge the new map in court, which could potentially lead to another Supreme Court battle.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Deuel Ross commented, “This is exactly why the Voting Rights Act was first created — this sort of stubbornness of states. Even when a court says that they’re violating federal law or the Constitution, they continue to fail to do the right thing. It’s troubling, but it’s part of a troubling history that has existed in America and Alabama for a long time.”
Republicans argue that they are meeting the criteria of the Voting Rights Act, which was not clearly defined. One plan for the second district has a 38% black population, while another has 42%. Previously, the district had a 30% black population.
“We believe it does meet the Voting Rights [Act] standard because we followed all the guidelines,” stated state Sen. Steve Livingston, a Republican. “As an opportunity district, nobody knows what the definition of opportunity is. They didn’t give us [a definition].”
Republican state Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed said, “I think we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to do, our job, which is to put all the ideas on the table, both chambers engaged completely, and then we’ll move forward to see where things go. Obviously, we’re going to come to some agreement between the two chambers, and that’s very important for all of us.”
Republicans in Washington, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), have confirmed that they are closely monitoring the situation.
“I’d like to know where they’re going to go and whether they’re in the process of happening,” McCarthy said, adding that he has spoken with ”a few” Alabama lawmakers. “I know the Democrats are trying very hard to redraw New York. … I think people should be very fair in this process to be able to see what’s happening. I like to know what’s going to happen out there.”
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