FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2023
CONTACT
Jonny Levenfeld, West End Strategy Team
jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com, 202-704-4535
Interfaith Alliance: High Court’s Rejection of Alabama’s Discriminatory Map a Win for Inclusive Democracy
WASHINGTON—Interfaith advocates are celebrating today’s Supreme Court decision in Allen v. Milligan (formerly Merrill v. Milligan), which affirmed a lower court’s ruling rebuking an Alabama state legislature voting map that dilutes the power of Black voters. The map effectively gave white voters control over 86 percent of the state’s congressional seats, despite the fact that this voting bloc makes up only 63 percent of the state population.
In a 5-4 decision, the Court agreed with the lower court’s recommendation to create an additional “opportunity” district to ensure that Black residents are fairly represented at the federal level. Darcy Hirsh, senior director of policy and advocacy at Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“Today’s ruling reaffirms the landmark Voting Rights Act and honors the hard-fought right to vote. As the late Rep. John Lewis reminds us: ‘The vote is precious. It is almost sacred.’ As an organization working to achieve a pluralistic vision of religious freedom and an inclusive democracy, we are steadfast in our commitment to oppose any effort to deny voter access.
“Measures that dilute or deprive meaningful participation in our democratic system, like the Alabama legislature’s discriminatory attempt to dilute the power of Black voters, are an affront to our common cause for freedom, justice, and equality. For our democracy to work for all of us, it must include all of us.”
“Voting is at its core the most fundamental way to participate in our democracy and to make our voices heard. As people of faith and no faith, we have a moral duty to ensure that the law guarantees an equal right to vote, regardless of who you are and which party you choose.”
Interfaith Alliance has long stood in opposition to gerrymandering and other practices intended to undermine voter access for Black Americans as part of its commitment to protecting the integrity of both religion and inclusive democracy in America.
If you are interested in speaking further with Interfaith Alliance, please contact Jonny Levenfeld at (202) 704-4535 or jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com.