NAACP Statement on Supreme Court upholding “One Person, One Vote”

NAACP Statement on Supreme Court upholding “One Person, One Vote”

      BALTIMORE , MD– NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks released the following statement about today’s Supreme Court decision on voter representation in Evenwel V. Abbott:

“We are extremely pleased that the Supreme Court today re-affirmed a key principle of our representative system up-held at every lower level of the court system – that people who hold elected office are chosen by and represent the interests of ALL the people who live in their districts, regardless of whether they were active voters, or supportive of an individual candidate’s or party’s agenda and philosophy.

“If voting is a civic sacrament, then the principle of “one person, one vote” is a civic commandment enshrined in our Constitution.  Today, the Court unanimously affirmed that principle.

“In this year, when candidates for president are asking people to support policies that would denigrate, demean, discriminate and even deport people who have been living and working in America, the NAACP remains unapologetic in our fight against attempts to silence large segments of our population, or game the election process to preserve their own power and influence.

“Regardless of age, prior background, citizenship status or other circumstance, everyone deserves a voice in important policy decisions affecting critical issues like education, health, and job creation and economic development.  Given these and other widespread attempts by lawmakers since 2010 to weaken the voices of the poor, the young, voters of color, we consider today’s decision to be a huge win for our democracy.

“As we remember and honor the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin King, Jr., who was taken from us 48 years ago today, we shall continue our work to perfect this Union and demand that all have a seat and a voice at the table to declare that Our Lives Matter, and Our Votes Count.”