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Selma Group Travels to U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Voting Rights Case

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By George McDonald

Story Created: Feb 26, 2013 at 8:40 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 26, 2013 at 8:40 PM CDT

From the West Alabama Newsroom-- A group from Selma is traveling to Washington DC to hear a Supreme Court case questioning the constitutionality of part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The High Court will hear the case one day before the event commemorating the act's passage gets underway in Selma.

The provision of the law being challenged requires local governments to get federal approval before any changes to voting policies and regulations can be made.

"They didn't put in the Alabama Constitution blacks can't vote, what they say is you got to pay poll tax," said State Senator Hank Sanders. "Black folks and poor folks couldn't pay the poll tax, then they said, if your grandfather didn't vote that you've got to take a test, and instead of making it a reasonable test they'll say how many bubbles in a bar of soap."

The group will stop and take part in voting rights rallies in Richmond, Virginia - Charlotte, North Carolina - Atlanta and Birmingham-- on the way back.

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