Selma activists say voting rights protection wiped out by SCOTUS

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

The U.S. Supreme Court has now struck down two key provisions of the act — and people in Selma are speaking out.

“It’s not just being changed or diminished, it has been wiped out. There’s nothing left that’s meaningful,” said Civil Right Attorney and former long-time state senator Hank Sanders.

The high court gutted Section V of the Voting Rights Act in 2013. And this year it struck down Section II.

Section II of the VRA was primarily used to challenge discriminatory election laws and electoral maps that dilute minority voting strength.

Without it, the state of Alabama gets to switch back to a congressional map in this year’s general election that courts had previously determined to be discriminatory.

“African-Americans make up 28% of the voting population in the state of Alabama, and there are 7 congressional seats, only having one seat is 14% representation,” said Congresswoman Terri Sewell.

“We currently have two seats and we’re going to fight to keep those two seats. Because it’s not about some representation. It’s about fair representation. And that’s all we’re asking for.”

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law 61 years ago — on August 6th.