The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 15, 2023
Today’s Script:
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
We reported Monday on the U.S. Supreme Court’s surprise 5-4 decision, upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and throwing out Alabama’s racially gerrymandered Congressional voting district maps. More maps could fall.
The high court found in Allen v. Milligan that the Alabama legislature intentionally manipulated voting district maps to dilute African American voting power despite having regions meeting the criteria for a second majority-Black district.
As a result of that decision, an appeal was filed June 12th in an Arkansas case, Simpson v. Hutchinson, dismissed by a three-judge federal panel just last month as not an intentional racial gerrymander. Democracy Docket reports that a group of Arkansas voters argues that the state legislature “cracked” the 2nd Congressional district to dilute the Black vote in Little Rock and Pulaski County. The suit also cites Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and violations of the 14th and 15th Amendment. The appeal goes directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Waiting in the SCOTUS wings is another case in Louisiana, paused in 2022 by the court. It’s an even stronger case than Alabama. Louisiana is 31% African American, yet has only one majority Black district out of six. It could also result in another overturned map. There are 32 cases citing Section 2 violations pending around the U.S.
We have links to the cases, analysis, and groups taking action, at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. Supreme Court – Allen v. Milligan Decision
– LDF’s Case Challenging Alabama’s Redistricting Maps and Why it Matters
Democracy Docket – Black Voters Appeal Arkansas Congressional Map Challenge to U.S. Supreme Court
The American Redistricting Project – Simpson v. Thurston (Formerly Simpson v. Hutchinson)
Democracy Docket – (Opinion) Louisiana Gets a Shot at Fair Maps After Supreme Court Ruling in Allen v. Milligan
ProPublica – Voting Maps Throughout the Deep South May Be Redrawn After Surprise Supreme Court Ruling
KUAR – Plaintiffs hope SCOTUS decision in Alabama case bodes well for Arkansas redistricting lawsuits
Groups Taking Action:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Arkansas, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Power Coalition for Equity & Justice, ACLU of Louisiana
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