Alabama Legislature Ignores Supreme Court’s Order to Create Another Majority-Black Congressional District

Alabama State Capitol.Photo: Julie Bennett/Getty

Alabama’s Republican-controlled legislature has rejected calls — and, say critics, a Supreme Court ruling — to draw a second majority-Black congressional district, instead redistricting in a way that continues to favor their own party.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, Alabama was required to redraw its congressional districts for the2024 electionin order to give Black voters an equal voice. A court order stipulates that the new map must include “either an additional majority-Black congressional district, or an additional district in which Black voters otherwise have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.”

Evan Milligan, the Alabama case’s lead plaintiff, speaks outside of the Supreme Court.AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Speaking on the state House floor this week, Alabama state Rep. Juandalynn Givan — a Democrat and a lawyer — told his Republican colleagues, “I can’t say the word, but you all have basically dropped the F-bomb on the United States Supreme Court,” per Bloomberg.

The legislature is required to submit its decided-upon map to a panel of federal judges, which will ultimately determine whether it gives Black Alabama residents a real voice in electing their leaders.

source: people.com