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Black church leaders to march in Selma this weekend over Voting Rights Act ruling

The march drew more than 5,000 people and launched a national effort to defend Black political representation after the ruling.

  • On Saturday, May 16, 2026, thousands gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, to mobilize for voting rights and defend Black political representation following a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act.
  • Republican-Led states have moved to redraw congressional maps targeting Black-majority districts after a recent Supreme Court ruling reduced the Voting Rights Act's enforcement power, allowing states to prioritize partisan goals without previous race-based redistricting considerations.
  • U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joined dozens of officials at the Alabama State Capitol Building. Booker called Montgomery "sacred soil" in the civil rights fight, urging the current generation to protect voting rights and liberties.
  • Alabama officials are proceeding with special primaries scheduled for August 11 under a new congressional map. A federal three-judge panel in Birmingham is currently reviewing whether the state must adopt different lines to comply with voting rights laws.
  • Activists warned the redistricting efforts are part of a coordinated national attack on Black political power. Lead plaintiff Evan Milligan urged citizens to recommit to the voting rights fight, saying "We don't have to accept that this will be the reality for the next 10 years or two years or forever.
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The court decisions of recent weeks will directly affect the fall's congressional elections. The position of the black population has deteriorated drastically, writes foreign correspondent Esko Varho.

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The Root broke the news on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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