Litigation Against VRA is Latest in Republicans’ Attacks on Voting Rights and Black Political Power

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s hearing oral arguments on Louisiana v. Callais, the latest in a series of Republican-led attacks on the Voting Rights Act and Black political power.

“Today, we find ourselves in the midst of a precise, intentional, and coordinated assault on Black political power—from Republicans’ attacks on the Voting Rights Act and their attempts at redistricting Black and brown members of Congress out of their seats, to their brazen attacks on Black public officials and pushout of federal workers. 

“After generations organized, marched, and bled, the Voting Rights Act was passed to confront racial discrimination in our elections and empower Black voters to have a voice in our democracy. As Trump and Republicans continue their attempts to kill this landmark civil rights legislation, the Supreme Court must uphold the law and defend the sacred right to vote. Our democracy depends on it.”

Rep. Pressley has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to protecting and expanding the sacred right to vote for all people, including those who are currently and formerly incarcerated.

• In December 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) unveiled the Inclusive Democracy Act, brand new, first-of-its-kind legislation that would end felony disenfranchisement in Federal elections and guarantee the right to vote for incarcerated citizens.
• In February 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Whip Jim Clyburn and Congressman Mondaire Jones called on the Department of Justice to aggressively protect voting rights and fight against disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, voter purges, and other forms of voter suppression, vote dilution, and election subversion.
• Rep. Pressley has repeatedly urged the U.S. Senate to abolish the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• In March 2021, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in re-introducing an amendment to lower the federal election voting age from 18-years-old to 16-years-old.
• Rep. Pressley has called on the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass meaningful voting rights legislation that would boost voter turnout and expand access to the ballot box.
• As a Boston City Councilor, Rep. Pressley advocated for expanded access to the ballot box, supporting legislation requiring ballots be available in multiple languages, and filing a home rule petition to allow for early voting in Boston’s preliminary and general elections.

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