Calling Friday one of the “darkest days in Alabama legislative history,” the ACLUS of Alabama is promising to fight two new bills passed by the Alabama Legislature in court.
“(Friday was) one of the darkest days in Alabama legislative history,” said JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist, the executive director of the ACLU of Alabama. “A majority of Alabama lawmakers voted to unconstitutionally disenfranchise nearly three-fifths of the state’s voters, choosing party over the people. For several years now, the court has been consistent: Alabama violated the 14th Amendment by intentionally discriminating against Black voters in its congressional and legislative maps. The Callais opinion even agrees. We believe the court’s injunction will continue to stand. We will see them in court. In spite of the lawmakers’ injustices, our hearts are full because of the hundreds of Alabamians who showed up every day to protest and rally support against these bills. We heard their voices loud and clear, and we will continue to fight with and for them.”
Friday proved a chaotic day as lawmakers made their final votes on two new bills, both designed to allow new special elections to move forward based on previous version of Alabama’s U.S. Congressional districts and State Senate districts if the U.S. Supreme Court lifts its existing injunction.
The two maps have been ruled intentionally racially discriminatory by the federal courts, but Republicans have taken the stance after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Callais that the federal court actually drew maps that were illegally racially gerrymandered.
The House proceedings were briefly interrupted on Friday morning when Dee Reed, Alabama state organizing manager for Black Voters Matter, broke out in a chant in the House gallery. Law enforcement dragged Reed, who twice collapsed herself to the ground, out of the gallery and escorted her out of the statehouse but did not arrest her.
The protest drew extra light to how seriously opponents of the legislation are taking this fight. Several protesters who spoke with APR in the Statehouse Friday said they felt like they were taking part in history, drawing comparisons to the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s.
Despite the tension, Gov. Kay. Ivey immediately signed both bills into law on Friday and thanked Republican lawmakers for making it happen.
“With this special session successfully behind us, Alabama now stands ready to quickly act, should the courts issue favorable rulings in our ongoing redistricting cases,” Ivey said. “I thank the Legislature for answering my call to address the issue in fast order. I am grateful to Speaker Ledbetter and Pro Tem Gudger for their strong leadership and focus this week. Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best.”
Shortly after session ended on Friday, a federal appeals court bluntly denied Secretary of State Wes Allen’s motion to lift the injunction, writing that the decision now rest in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. If the injunction remains in place, the new legislation will not have any effect.
