Louisiana congressional map ruling appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — The Louisiana NAACP, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and nine individuals appealed a ruling on Louisiana’s congressional map to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 1).

A Louisiana public service commissioner told KSLA News 12 they filed the appeal because they are going to keep fighting to have two majority-minority districts since one-third of the state’s population is African-American.

Read the appeal:

On Tuesday, a federal three-judge panel overturned the map that includes a 6th Congressional District that stretches from Shreveport to Baton Rouge.

[ Louisiana won’t immediately get a new majority-Black House district after judges reject it]

“The court’s decision yesterday puts us in complete flux because we have elections coming down in November. The state has argued they need a congressional map by May 15,” District 3 Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis said Wednesday. The Democrat is one of the plaintiffs in the case.

Earlier this year, a judge asked Louisiana lawmakers to create a new congressional map because the previous one violated the Voting Rights Act.

A Louisiana state senator said he supports the court’s decision to overturn the latest map.

“What the court said is that the racial component would be a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment protection laws that are provided under the United States Constitution,” said District 38′s Thomas Pressly, who is a Republican.

The Louisiana Democratic Party issued the following statement:

“Despite this ruling, it remains evident that a second Black majority district is essential for ensuring fair and equitable representation for Black voters in Louisiana. We are steadfast in our commitment to advocating for the fundamental rights of Black Louisianians whose voting influence has consistently faced significant dilution.”

A Shreveport resident told KSLA News 12 it is important for the state of Louisiana to have fair representation with the congressional map.

Another person who identified herself only as Mrs. Peggy had a different thing to say. “I am neutral.”

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