By Alliance Communications Coordinator Amy Durr
The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has just voted to essentially gut the Voting Rights Act (VRA), the key set of provisions that assure fair representation and basic rights for millions of Americans. The VRA has long been a fundamental cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, says Time.
In fact, the VRA has been a constant target of conservatives on the Court since its enactment following its enactment in 1965 to address outright racism and historic disenfranchisement of Black voters. This is the third and final blow to the VRA led by Chief Justice John Roberts, with support from all five of the other conservatives on the Court.
This dismantling took place in a case seemingly just involving the current Louisiana congressional map for the 2026 election in the Louisiana v. Callais decision. However, its ramifications will affect all Americans and put a final dagger into the VRA and fundamental rights into the future.
An Unsurprising, Painful Surge of Legislation
The decision has unleashed an unprecedented tidal wave of southern red states rushing to redraw their Congressional and state maps, even amidst early voting already having begun.
It’s furthered Trump’s call to redraw Congressional maps in Texas and other states in order to hold the House in the upcoming midterms, along with his hardcore push to pass the SAVE America Act. The intention is to keep millions of eligible US citizens from being able to vote, severely restrict vote by mail, and increase federal control over state and local elections, according to the ACLU.
Fortunately, civil and voter rights groups have risen up to fight back, joined by liberals, independents and conscious conservatives who all recognize this is one of the gravest threats ever to the rule of law and fundamental rights in our country.
It’s Time to Fight This Unconstitutional Assault on Voting Rights
After losing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, and many other civil rights icons, it is now our time to increase pressure on Congress and state legislatures to honor landmark legislation and continue to push for more reforms.
Please join with the Alliance in making your voice heard about this travesty by sending this Rock the Vote letter to your legislators.
But these ominous days are calling us to do more:
- Learn about the Voting Rights Act and continuing threats
- Continue to fight the onslaught of federal Save Acts by signing the ACLU, League of Women Voters and Brennan Center for Justice
- Monitor the current Administration’s push to send ICE agents to polling locations
- Stand with state voting rights groups as they mobilize in Southern states, by supporting their efforts with donations, sharing the seriousness of the attack on social media and organizing local protests wherever you live, including these upcoming events:
- The Alabama “We Got Us” tour, organized by Black Voters Matter, running May 15-19 across multiple Alabama cities
- A grassroots National Day of Action in Alabama on Saturday, May 16, including a 9 am prayer gathering led by faith leaders at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, followed by a 1-5 pm National Mass Rally at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery
- A “Rally for Our Representation” in Jackson, MS, on May 20
- Continue to support actions in Missouri, like the A “Let Us Vote” rally outside the Missouri Supreme Court in Jefferson City, MO held this week
- Google “voting rights actions in [your state]” and take local action
- Plan ahead for the The John Lewis Good Trouble Lives On Weekend of Action, July 17-19: a three-day national mobilization to honor the legacy of the late US Rep. John Lewis by doing what he loved most — organizing, acting and registering voters — and to energize a unified collective push toward the 2026 midterms
I’m fed up and I’m not going to take it any more. Let’s be true patriots and fight for our Constitutional rights.