New York, NY—Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision in Louisiana v. Callais, limiting a provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Court struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana. In a 6–3 ruling, SCOTUS held that while the Voting Rights Act could provide a compelling reason to engage in race-based redistricting, it could do so only if plaintiffs can show intentional racial discrimination in the way districts are drawn.
The implications of this ruling include gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and allowing states to redraw their congressional district maps to eliminate majority-Black and brown districts previously protected by the VRA, putting them at risk.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Today’s decision from Justice Roberts’ Court is a dangerous step backward for our democracy, weakening what remains of the Voting Rights Act and signaling a retreat from protecting communities that have fought for generations to be heard. By imposing a higher burden to prove intentional discrimination, this ruling weakens federal protections for fair representation and opens the door for states to dilute the political power of historically marginalized communities and deny them fair representation. New York must take immediate action to reinforce New York’s protections against racial discrimination in redistricting and invest in robust enforcement at the state level. Without meaningful safeguards, majority-Black, brown, and Asian districts face an increased threat of being divided and weakened. New York has a clear and responsible path forward. We look forward to working with our partners in the civil rights and racial justice movement, as well as our state legislature, to advance the most protective measure possible so New York can level the playing field and ensure all New Yorkers are fairly represented in Congress.”