BATON ROUGE, La. — In response to the Louisiana v. Callais decision, the Louisiana Legislature passed a redrawn congressional map today that will eliminate one of the two Black opportunity districts in the state. The map with these two districts was the first fair map used by the state — existing before a federal court found that the state had unlawfully diluted the voting rights of Black Louisianans.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) condemned Louisiana lawmakers’ actions, which have not only unnecessarily thrown the state’s elections into chaos but will also result in a less representative government.
“The actions of the Louisiana Legislature demonstrate exactly why the Voting Rights Act passed in the first place,” said Chandra “Shae” Foster, Louisiana policy director, SPLC. “Using the Callais decision as an excuse, the governor and secretary of state took the unprecedented step of postponing elections that were already underway to create time for discriminatory gerrymandering that could cost Louisiana’s Black communities their representation in the state and federal government.”
Gov. Jeff Landry and the secretary of state’s office called for redrawing the maps in the middle of the state’s primaries. More than 40,000 voters had already cast their ballots.
“Despite the rallying cry of voters speaking out against the unconscionable map proposals, the Legislature’s majority party ignored those voices and advanced a map that communities across Louisiana overwhelmingly warned would dilute Black voting power and undermine fair representation,” Foster said. “The SPLC will continue to stand behind all Louisianans and vigorously defend the voting rights of Black communities across Louisiana.”
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About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.