The Congressional Black Caucus Recognizes the Second Anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder

WASHINGTON, D.C. – CBC Chairman, G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement on the second year anniversary of the Shelby County v. Holder ruling:

“In the two years following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA) in Shelby County v. Holder, voting rights have come under a renewed assault in states across our country.

“Several Republican-led states have exploited the VRA by passing laws that severely diminish the right to vote and hinder America’s progress for equality and a representative democracy.  The Shelby decision reversed 50 years of progress made to expand access to the voting booth, and opened a pathway to new voting laws that discriminate against poor, minority, and elderly voters.

“Members of the Congressional Black Caucus vow to continue our fight against these overtly discriminatory and racially motivated initiatives that disenfranchise thousands across the country to ensure the right to vote is protected for all Americans.”

Earlier this year, the Congressional Black Caucus filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging justices to review Wisconsin’s 2011 state voter ID law. Additionally, the CBC filed an amicus brief with the North Carolina Supreme Court urging a review of the state’s 2011 redistricting plan.