Louisiana's Attack on the Voting Rights Act Deepens America's Civil Rights State of Emergency

American democracy is under siege. As the nation approaches landmark civil rights anniversaries, efforts are underway in several states to dismantle longstanding protections, most alarmingly, Louisiana's recent petition to gut the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

- Marc H. Morial, President and CEO National Urban League

Louisiana has taken the extraordinary step of refusing to defend its own congressional map, which includes two majority-Black districts, and instead urged the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down race-conscious redistricting frameworks established by Thornburg v. Gingles in 1986. That precedent ensures minority populations have a fair chance to elect representatives of their choosing. The state's attorney general argues that such redistricting is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause, effectively challenging the applicability of Section 2 of the VRA. The case is scheduled to return to the Supreme Court on October 15, 2025, as reported by Politico and MSNBC.

This move is more than a legal maneuver. It is a direct assault on Black political power. Legal scholars warn that if successful, it would pave the way for fewer majority-minority districts not only in Louisiana but across the nation, decimating representation in Congress, statehouses, and local governments.