ICYMI: NYT reports that new proposed district maps across the country “are more distorted, more disjointed and more gerrymandered than any since the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965.”

Stephany Spaulding: “Gerrymandering is a manipulation of our democracy and most directly impacts the voting rights of Black and Brown communities. The Senate can no longer stand by while we are used as pawns in these partisan games.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As state legislators have begun proposing new redistricting maps, many have already made early attempts at gerrymandering in states such as Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and Illinois. On Tuesday, the Ohio Senate passed what Ari Berman calls an “extreme gerrymandered” map, likely giving Republicans 87% of seats in the Ohio House of Representatives, despite the fact that they have only won about 55% of statewide votes in recent elections.

The Freedom to Vote Act, a compromise voting rights bill introduced in September by Senate Democrats that would address partisan gerrymandering, was recently filibustered by Republicans, paving the way for gerrymandering to continue across the country ahead of the 2022 election. Only two weeks later, Republicans also filibustered the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would require states to obtain federal approval to change their political maps.

Stephany Spaulding, Just Democracy Spokesperson and Founder of Truth and Conciliation, issued the following statement:

“After blocking even simple debate on voting rights legislation four times this year, Republicans have shown that they will filibuster any bill that aims to build a more equitable redistricting process and threatens to block their undemocratic attempts at stealing power in future elections. Gerrymandering is a manipulation of our democracy and most directly impacts the voting rights of Black and Brown communities. The Senate can no longer stand by while we are used as pawns in these partisan games.

It’s become clear that even compromise voting rights bills have no chance of being signed into law as long as the Jim Crow filibuster remains. To protect our democracy and stop these blatant gerrymandering attempts in their tracks, the Senate must listen to the will of the American people and eliminate the filibuster once and for all to pass vital voting rights legislation.”

# # #

About Just Democracy

Just Democracy is an intersectional coalition with racial justice at its core — uplifting voices from all walks of American life that are too often left out of the conversation. The coalition is made up of over 40 Black and Brown-led organizations working across issue areas. It mobilizes thousands who know that advancing social and racial justice issues first requires bold structural democracy reform.

To speak with a Just Democracy spokesperson, please email press@justdemocracy.us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justdemocracy/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/justdemocracy

Website: https://www.justdemocracy.us