By Marc H. Morial
NNPA
https://nnpa.org
“The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” – Rep. John Lewis
American democracy is under siege. As the nation approaches landmark civil rights anniversaries, efforts are underway in several states to dismantle long-standing protections, most alarmingly, Louisiana’s recent petition to gut the Voting Rights Act.
Louisiana has taken the extraordinary step of refusing to defend its own congressional map, which includes two majority-Black districts, and instead urged the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down race-conscious redistricting frameworks established by Thornburg v. Gingles in 1986. That precedent ensures minority populations have a fair chance to elect representatives of their choosing.
The state’s attorney general argues that such redistricting is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause, effectively challenging the applicability of Section 2 of the VRA. The case is scheduled to return to the Supreme Court on Oct. 15, as reported by MSNBC.
This move is more than a legal maneuver. It is a direct assault on Black political power. Legal scholars warn that if successful, it would pave the way for fewer majority-minority districts not only in Louisiana but across the nation, decimating representation in Congress, statehouses and local governments.
The stakes are stark. As the 2025 State of Black America report reveals, America’s civil rights and democratic systems are in a state of emergency. The report outlines escalating efforts, from legislative rollback to coordinated disinformation, aimed at erasing decades of hard-won protections. This year’s theme is clear: democracy cannot withstand silence or delay.
Louisiana’s maneuver arrives at a critical moment. Black Louisianans make up nearly one-third of the state’s population. Only after extensive legal pressure did the state adopt a second majority-Black district for the 2024 elections. That change came following a federal court ruling in favor of Black voters under Section 2 of the VRA, which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed to stand in 2024. Now, the very legal framework that enabled that progress is under attack.
This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a national pattern of voter suppression by design. The State of Black America report outlines that 27 states have passed legislation in the past five years that directly restricts access to the ballot through voter roll purges, reduced polling locations, gerrymandering and ID laws that disproportionately harm communities of color.
But dismantling the Voting Rights Act is not only a legal loss. It is a political and moral crisis. Black elected officials, advocates and all who believe in representative democracy must respond with urgency.
What must be done:
1 Hold national leadership accountable. Congress must act immediately to reauthorize and strengthen the Voting Rights Act by passing legislation such as the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
2 Mobilize civic resistance. Civil rights organizations, faith-based coalitions and local community leaders must engage in robust organizing, voter education and legal defense efforts to effectively address the challenges facing their communities.
3 Invest in political equity. Foundations, public institutions and allies must direct resources toward safeguarding Black electoral participation and representation.
The crisis is clear. The solutions are within reach. The legacy of John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer and so many others reminds us that the right to vote must never be taken for granted.
To be equal, we must protect the most powerful tool we have, the vote, and resist every attempt to take it away.
Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.
