Alabama Republicans on Monday defended their decision not to create a second majority-Black district in a hearing before a panel of federal judges over the stateās redrawn congressional maps.
State Republicans continue to resist court orders, including from the supreme court in June, to amend the congressional maps to give Black voters increased political power and representation.
Lawyers for voters called Alabamaās plan, which maintains one majority-Black district, discriminatory. Abha Khanna, an attorney representing one group of plaintiffs in the case, said Alabama chose ādefiance over complianceā.
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In response to the ruling, Alabama Republicans boosted the percentage of Black voters in the majority-white second congressional district, now represented by Republican representative Barry Moore, from about 30% to 39.9%, failing to give Black voters a majority which would allow them to elect their candidate of choice.
A lawyer for the state accused plaintiffs of seeking a āracial gerrymanderā over traditional guidelines for drawing districts, such as keeping districts compact and keeping communities of interest together.
More than 60 years after George Wallace and things appear unchanged in Alabama. Not that anyone expected much better from Alabama.
Thatās a feature not a bug to these people, conservatism is all about resisting progress even at their very own detriment.