Dallas City Wire

WASHINGTON - Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33), co-founder of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, released the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision which gutted key protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA) and removed federal oversight from states with a  track record of voter suppression:

 “Today marks a somber day for our democracy, as we mark ten years since the disastrous Shelby County v. Holder decision. This day marked when the Supreme Court gutted key protections of the Voting Rights Act that for decades prevented states from restricting the sacred right to vote.” 

 “In these past ten years, states like my home state of Texas have seized on this decision and the lack of much-needed federal oversight to unleash discriminatory laws that have accelerated rampant voter suppression that has silenced the voices of minorities. This year’s anniversary also comes after the first redistricting cycle after the decision that also allowed state governments to pass maps that dilute the voices of Black voters and other voters of color.”

 “Despite this, I believe there is hope. In the last few weeks, we saw the Supreme Court reverse course on the dilution of minority voting rights by issuing its opinion in the Allen v. Milligan case, sending a clear message to lawmakers that their responsibility has not changed: They must ensure that voters of color are not denied an opportunity to participate in the electoral process.”

 “I remain committed to building on this small step forward with my colleagues in the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus and the Democratic party as a whole. We must do all we can to finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that would restore the Voting Rights Act to ensure Americans of color are treated as full and equal citizens in our democracy, no matter their bank account, native language, age, disability status, or ZIP Code.”

Original source can be found here.