"The US supreme court is turning the clock back; reviving a system where formal voting rights for minorities remain, but political power does not."
"Following last week's court decision to substantially weaken section 2 of the VRA, Republicans are moving swiftly to redraw maps, placing previously protected Black congressional districts at risk."
"In a city like Memphis, a concentrated Black urban vote capable of electing a candidate in one district can now be split across several."
"The result is that by cracking Memphis, Tennessee Republicans could win all nine House seats as opposed to the eight seats they currently hold."
In the late 19th century, federal protections for Black voters diminished, leading to disenfranchisement through Jim Crow laws. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to rectify this, but recent Supreme Court rulings have weakened its provisions. The court's decision to undermine Section 2 of the VRA has enabled Republicans to redraw electoral maps, threatening Black congressional districts. This could allow Republicans to gain additional House seats, potentially maintaining power despite losing the popular vote. Both major parties have engaged in gerrymandering, but the current ruling disproportionately benefits Republicans.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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