NC Black Alliance responds to SCOTUS decision in Louisiana v. Callais

As the Supreme Court issues its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, our focus remains where it has always been: with the people and communities most impacted by efforts to weaken fair representation. Today’s decision represents a profound setback for our multiracial democracy.

Even after the Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the Court has consistently promised that the Voting Rights Act’s core protections against discriminatory districting are here to stay. Today’s decision breaks that promise, a promise reaffirmed by this Court as recently as 2023 in Allen v. Milligan.

But the Callais decision effectively strips away the remaining safeguards in Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, putting hard-won representation at risk. As we’ve seen in our own state with North Carolina’s 1st and 3rd congressional districts, opponents of fairness will not stop until Black voters are denied the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. When political power is diluted, communities lose leverage to fight for better schools, safer infrastructure, accessible health care, environmental protections and economic opportunity.

Despite today’s decision, our work continues. We will continue organizing, educating and mobilizing. We will continue to pressure elected officials to create fair and representative electoral systems. And we will continue to prepare voters to show up because our opponents would not work this hard to silence voices that did not matter.

Remember, we have faced setbacks before. But every major civil rights victory in this country has grown out of moments like this.

The responsibility remains ours to defend, rebuild and expand.