By Marie Brown
There have been countless attempts to alter the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This is a landmark US federal statute that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the civil rights movement Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the US said it was unconstitutional. As a result, Louisiana and several other southern states are scrambling to withdraw the current congressional lines and draw new ones that would give Republicans more seats in Congress.
Gov. Jeff Landry has given an executive order to suspend the congressional races in Louisiana. Over 100,000 mail-in ballots have already been cast. Citizens are now in limbo not knowing what is going on. One local Republican candidate is already claiming victory because he apparently knows how the new lines will be drawn and he won’t have to compete with other candidates in the southern parts of the state of Louisiana.
Lawsuits have been filed in federal court by practically all the democratic candidates because the Supreme Court decision did not say that elections should be suspended. Power, Influence and Control have never been so obvious since it has taken over 100 years to take away voting rights of black and brown citizens. All of us should stay tuned to see what will happen next. During these difficult times, it is difficult to Love where we Live and Live where we Love.
