State Rep. James Talarico is blasting the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to weaken the landmark Voting Rights Act.
Established in 1965 after years of violence and protests, the Voting Rights Act was designed to prohibit racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the South. But on Wednesday, April 29, the Supreme Court — now loaded with justices beholden to President Donald Trump — voted to invalidate Louisiana’s new congressional maps, which were designed to protect Black voters, striking down a key part of the act.
For Talarico, D-Austin, the move is just the latest in Trump’s attempts to disenfranchise minority voters across the country.
“After generations of Americans protested, marched, and died to secure equal rights at the polls,” he said in a statement, “the most powerful people in the country are trying to systemically undermine our freedom to vote.”
The move in Louisiana, where a new congressional map was drawn to protect Black voters, is the polar opposite of the gerrymandered maps approved for use in Texas, which were designed to consolidate Republican control — Texas’ map was upheld by the Supreme Court, while Louisiana’s was thrown out.
“Last summer, my fellow Texas Democrats and I broke quorum to shine a national spotlight on the president’s redistricting power grab,” Talarico said. “In March, Texans were turned away from polling locations in Dallas and Williamson counties. Today, the Supreme Court further gutted the Voting Rights Act — a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement.”
“There is a coordinated effort to dilute and suppress the vote of Black and brown communities here in Texas and across the country,” he continued. “We’re going to keep fighting — because there is nothing more un-American than depriving citizens of their God-given rights at the ballot box.”
Talarico will represent the Democratic Party in Texas’ U.S. Senate race in November. Currently, he does not know which Republican he will face – that will be decided in the Republican primary runoff on May 26 between incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Supreme Court weakens Voting Rights Act, Talarico reacts
Reporting by Adam Powell, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
