The Congressional Black Caucus Files Amicus Brief in the North Carolina Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, DC – The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) filed an amicus brief in the North Carolina Supreme Court June 11, 2015 urging justices to review the state legislature’s redistricting plan from 2011 on claims of racial gerrymandering and disenfranchisement of minority voters.

“Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have a strong interest in ensuring that claims of racial gerrymandering by the state legislatures are evaluated in a way that is consistent with the Voting Rights Act, especially in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s most recent decision involving the state of Alabama,” said Representative G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“Many CBC members led the fight to end the practice of voter disenfranchisement 50 years ago, and we refuse to stand by silently while historical advancements in equality and fairness are reversed, making it increasingly difficult for all citizens to vote and have a voice in America’s democratic process. The CBC is in a unique position to appreciate and articulate the potential consequences of plans, such as the one put forth by the North Carolina General Assembly, to undermine the very purpose of the Voting Rights Act.  Moreover, as members of Congress, we have a responsibility to protect the voting rights of all citizens, but especially for the most vulnerable whose votes have historically been challenged and denied over the course of our country’s history,” he concluded.

To view the amicus brief, visit here.

Since its establishment in 1971, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have joined together to empower America’s neglected citizens and address their legislative concerns. For more than 40 years, the CBC has consistently been the voice for people of color and vulnerable communities in Congress and has been committed to utilizing the full Constitutional power and statutory authority of the United States government to ensure that all U.S. citizens have an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. To learn more about the Congressional Black Caucus, visit http://cbc-butterfield.house.gov.