The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 7, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
October 26th, a federal circuit court judge ordered Georgia’s redistricting maps to be redrawn to include majority-minority “opportunity districts” for Congress, state senate and state house. Legislators appear to be manipulating the new maps, too.
Judge Steven Jones ordered one additional Congressional district be added to allow a realistic chance of minority voters electing the candidates of their choice under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Section 2. He also required two additional opportunity state Senate districts and five additional state House districts.
The new maps include those districts, but while it included a new majority-minority Congressional district, the legislature dismembered another majority Black district served by Black Congresswoman Lucy McBath. A letter from the Georgia ACLU and other plaintiffs said: “In sum: the Committee Plan operates a shell game, in which Black voters in the vote dilution area identified by the Court gain no new opportunities, and districts that the Court specifically struck down remain intact.”
Democracy Docket reports that December 4th, the Georgia Senate approved the still-gerrymandered maps. The new maps must be adopted by the legislature, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, and submitted to the courts for review by December 8th. Whether Black Georgians get a fair shake is still up in the air.
We have more on Georgia’s gerrymandered maps and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Princeton Gerrymandering Project – Pre-Court Order Maps
Georgia Recorder – Federal judge strikes down Georgia’s political maps, sending lawmakers back to the drawing board
Associated Press – As Georgia looks to court-ordered redistricting, not only Republicans are in peril
Democracy Docket – Georgia Legislature Releases New, Still Gerrymandered Maps
ACLU/ACLU Georgia – Plaintiffs in Georgia Redistricting Lawsuit Offer Remedial State Legislative Maps
ACLU/ACLU Georgia – Letter to Legislators, RE: Remedial State Legislative Map Proposals
Democracy Docket – Gerrymandered Maps Move Through Georgia Legislature
Groups Taking Action:
Alpha Phi Alpha , ACLU Georgia, Fair Districts Georgia
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