Photos: Southern Coalition For Social Justice\YouTube
On Thursday, the Census Bureau released population data information that is used to draw congressional and legislative district lines.
The release of this years information comes at a critical time when Republicans across America have been introducing voter restriction–and voter suppression—-bill to make it harder for Black Americans, and other minorities, to vote. With the release of Thursday’ Census data, many now worry about Republican racial gerrymandering efforts that will further weaken the political power of Blacks and other minorities in spite of the clear population growth of non-whites.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson released the following statement regarding the 2020 Census data:
“Today’s release of the 2020 Census data shows that the nation is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. For the first time in Census history, the United States’ white population fell. In light of this data, NAACP is working to ensure that new districts reflect this nation’s growing diverse population.
“The 2020 Census data makes it clear – the United States is an increasingly multi-racial nation. As jurisdictions across the country engage in the redistricting process, NAACP will continue to advocate for a fair process that encourages community engagement. NAACP will look carefully at redistricting plans to ensure that maps are fairly drawn and that they comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“As this is the first redistricting cycle since the Voting Rights Act was sharply weakened by the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, NAACP will closely monitor the redistricting process in jurisdictions with a history of recent and current voting discrimination. If the redistricting process results in maps that dilute the votes of voters of color, NAACP will challenge those maps in court.
“With the recent resurgence of attacks on voting rights, NAACP will continue to defend voting rights, advocate for the passage of updated voting rights laws, and ensure that voters of color have a fair opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
“NAACP encourages voters to engage in the redistricting process by advocating for a fair process that values community input, redistricting criteria that includes compliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and maps that reflect this nation’s increasingly diverse population.”
