Selma residents react to Supreme Court decision gutting Voting Rights Act protections
Updated
Updated · NPR · May 4
Selma residents react to Supreme Court decision gutting Voting Rights Act protections
5 articles · Updated · NPR · May 4
In Selma, Alabama, residents linked the ruling to the city’s central role in the 1965 Bloody Sunday march that helped drive passage of the landmark law.
The decision removes many federal protections in the Voting Rights Act, prompting concern in a place long identified with the struggle for Black voting rights.
The reaction underscores how the court’s ruling is resonating beyond Washington, especially in communities where the act’s history and practical impact remain deeply felt.
With voting map rules rewritten, what does fair representation look like in the future?
How Louisiana v. Callais Undermines the Voting Rights Act and Endangers Selma’s Legacy
Overview
In early 2026, the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais struck down Louisiana's remedial congressional map and imposed a new legal standard requiring proof of intentional racial discrimination to challenge voting rights violations. This decision made it harder to prove discrimination, enabling Southern states like Alabama to redraw districts that dilute Black political power, targeting majority-Black districts such as Selma's 7th. In response, grassroots groups and national civil rights organizations intensified voter mobilization and launched legal challenges. The ruling threatens long-term minority representation by encouraging widespread partisan gerrymandering and weakening voting rights protections, marking a significant setback from the legacy of the 1965 Voting Rights Act born from Selma's Bloody Sunday.