WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus Executive Vice President, Campaigns and Advocacy, Tanya Clay House issued the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court decision in the Allen v. Milligan case of racial gerrymandering in Alabama:
“Hip Hop Caucus applauds the United States Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in the case of Allen v. Milligan to uphold voting rights and prohibit racial gerrymandering. This decision maintains the Voting Rights Act protections that voting district lines must be drawn fairly to allow minority voters a chance to elect candidates of their choice in states where voting is racially polarized.
Gerrymandering, especially racial gerrymandering, is an insidious threat to our democracy. It undercuts voters and helps create systemic apathy that aims to keep Black voters from the polls and encourages people to believe that their votes do not matter.
We know the tremendous power that is held in every single vote. This ruling reiterates that it is imperative that our voting laws and maps must consider race as a factor to prevent discrimination in the right to vote. Black voters have historically been disenfranchised and continue to face resistance in the electoral process through targeted voter suppression and intimidation practices. This ruling is a reaffirmation that we must continually be diligent in our efforts to protect the right to vote.
Hip Hop Caucus encourages racially-polarized states, like those in the U.S. South, to immediately redistrict where necessary to fairly represent the Black populations in their states and provide opportunity for a fair representative voice in government.”
About Hip Hop Caucus
Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.
