Louisiana Historians Argue Need for VRA Protections in SCOTUS Brief

"The filing in consolidated cases, Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais, argues that current conditions demonstrate the continuing need for robust enforcement of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The brief, submitted by counsel from Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) on behalf of Dr. John Bardes and Dr. Heather O'Connell of Louisiana State University and Dr. R. Blakeslee Gilpin of Tulane University, highlights the extensive historical and present-day evidence of racial discrimination in Louisiana."

"The document details how the state's Black population has grown steadily, remains geographically concentrated, and continues to face inequities in education, housing, health, and political participation. The historians emphasize this persistent discrimination undermines claims that Louisiana has moved past the need for Voting Rights Act protections. These formal findings, court orders, data, and lived conditions all demonstrate that present-day discrimination in Louisiana is systemic and state-enabled, the amicus states."

Historians filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging reversal of a lower court ruling that struck down Louisiana's congressional map creating a second majority-Black district. The filing argues current conditions demonstrate the continuing need for robust enforcement of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The brief, submitted by counsel from Southern Coalition for Social Justice on behalf of three scholars, highlights extensive historical and present-day evidence of racial discrimination. The document details Black population growth, geographic concentration, and persistent inequities in education, housing, health, and political participation, concluding discrimination remains systemic and state-enabled.

Read at SCSJ