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Today’s Links
Articles: 
Washington Post – Supreme Court frees Louisiana to use congressional map drawn by GOP
Vox – The Supreme Court just handed down very bad news for Black voters
NAACP Legal Defense Fund – U.S. Supreme Court Reinstates Louisiana’s Discriminatory Congressional Map
NPR – Supreme Court blocks creation of 2nd majority-Black congressional district in Alabama
Groups taking Action:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Power Coalition for Equity & Justice, ACLU of Louisiana, Alabama Voting Rights Coalition

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Lost among Tuesday’s testimony by Cassidy Hutchinson to the January 6th Committee was a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court restoring racially gerrymandered Congressional districts in Louisiana. 

A conservative Fifth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals sided with Governor John Bel Edwards, who argued that since Black citizens make up one-third of Louisiana’s population, Congressional districts should be drawn to include two majority-minority districts.   But the U.S. Supreme Court now says the legislature’s maps should be used, pending another case this fall.  Now, instead of two districts out of six, Black voters have only one, with the districts manipulated by the legislature to dilute Black, more liberal, voting power. 

In 2013, the court eroded much of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Then in 2019, the court said that redistricting was inherently political and the states should have the ultimate authority.   

Enter Alabama.  In a case similar to Louisiana’s, Black voters were gerrymandered out of their second Congressional district.  Lower courts ruled fair maps must be drawn, but the high court issued a stay in February, pending a full hearing of the case in October.  But even if the gerrymandered maps were thrown out– not likely with the current rogue court – it would come too late for African-American voters in Alabama and Louisiana to have real say in their government.

Links to more information on the decision and groups taking action are at our website, AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for June 30, 2022: U.S. Supreme Court Restores Racially Gerrymandered Maps in Louisiana appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Today’s Links:   
Brennan Center article:  Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling Shows What Happens When Democracy Is Thwarted
Texas Tribute:  Analysis: Gerrymandering has left Texas voters with few options
NPR:   Supreme Court Rules Partisan Gerrymandering Is Beyond The Reach Of Federal Courts
Mother Jones:   Eight Years Ago, the Supreme Court Gutted the Voting Rights Act. Widespread Voter Suppression Resulted.

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A new series of essays by the Brennan Center for Justice gives examples of how voter suppression and gerrymandering made the overturning of Roe vs. Wade possible.

In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court essentially greenlighted this year’s extreme gerrymandering around the country by ceding authority to state legislatures.  Texas, for example, manipulated the voting districts so that Democrats would need a 56.2% majority to win, while Republicans only need only a 43% majority, locking in seats and controlling the legislature. 

The Brennan Center also notes that the 36 recently enacted laws eroding the freedom to vote in 18 states now makes it harder for communities of color to have a voice.  By gutting the Voting Rights Act and making it more difficult to appeal discriminatory state laws, the U.S. Supreme Court has aided and abetted voter suppression. 

U.S. Senators don’t have voting districts.  So how do they stay in power and not face consequences for supporting extremist Supreme Court justices and opposing democracy reforms like the Freedom to Vote act?  The answer is Money.  Corporate donations unleashed after the court’s Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions flooded U.S. Senate campaigns and SuperPACs with special interest money, buying the blocking Merrick Garland’s nomination and the seating of Donald Trump’s three nominees.  

Gerrymandering and unlimited campaign cash can be overcome with overwhelming turnout to primary and general elections.  But that depends on you.   

A link to the Brennan Center article is at our website.  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for June 28, 2022: Brennan Center Essays Show How Erosion of Democracy Made Overturning of Roe vs. Wade Possible appeared first on American Democracy Minute.