Somos’ Melissa Morales on Supreme Court Voting Rights Act Ruling
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the Supreme Court’s ruling gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, Melissa Morales, Founder and President of Somos Votantes, released the following statement:
“Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act isn’t an abstract policy. It is a core protection that has ensured millions of Latino voters could participate in our democracy on equal terms. It has stopped politicians from drawing rigged maps designed to dilute and silence our voices. Today, this Court has rendered that protection all but meaningless.
And the pattern is hard to ignore. Just a month ago, these same justices stepped in to protect a Republican congressional map in Staten Island — a map a New York state court had already found discriminated against Black and Latino voters. They overruled a state court on state law. What we’re seeing is a clear double standard in how the Court applies its own rules – and it’s difficult to reconcile these decisions without acknowledging a disparity in whose rights are being prioritized and whose are not.
But let it be clear: this ruling will not stop us. Throughout history, every attempt to silence our voices has been met with a stronger, louder and more determined movement – and this time will be no different. The maps that get drawn in the coming months could shape Latino representation in Congress for a generation. We will not sit this out, Somos Votantes will continue to empower Latinos nationwide with more opportunities to fully participate in our democracy. Our vote still matters and this fight is far from over.”
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About Somos Votantes
Somos Votantes is a Latino-led, Latino-focused organization that runs some of the largest independent Latino civic and voter engagement programs in the country. We envision a nation where hardworking Latinos have the opportunities and tools to fully participate in our democracy. Somos Votantes seeks to empower hardworking Latinos in shaping the future of our democracy, primarily through non-partisan civic engagement programs, by increasing our participation in elections and advocating for progressive policies.Visit https://www.somosvotantes.com/ for more information on this program and other projects, and follow the organization on Instagram, Facebook, and X.