The U.S. Supreme Court just invalidated a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana and dealt a fatal blow to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The Louisiana v. Callais ruling is not just a setback for Black Louisianans.
Former President Obama said the ruling will allow governments to “systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities – so long as they do it under the guise of ‘partisanship’ rather than explicit ‘racial bias.'”
The Supreme Court just reversed generations of progress. Across the country, where Black and Latino voters now have proportional representation, we expect lawsuits alleging unconstitutional maps. Out of fear of losing the 2026 midterm elections, some Republican-led states will rush to delete fair maps in the next several months. These are the same states that have historically engaged in anti-Black voter discrimination.
The dissent said it plainly: “Today’s decision renders Section 2 all but a dead letter.”
They can redraw the lines. They cannot redraw our resolve.
Black women have always had to fight for our seat at the table. And we will not stop now.
We vote. That is how California passed Prop 50.
We run for office. That is why Black women make up California’s Black delegation to the House of Representatives.
And we lead communities across the country. That is how we will ultimately pass legislation such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Here’s what you do today:
- Use a credible source to better understand how the Voting Rights Act was weakened.
- Tell 5 people what this ruling means.
- Make a plan to VOTE in the June 2nd Primary. Ballots are mailed May 4th.
- Support organizations on the ground fighting back.
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