Fiery Crowd Caps Mississippi Redistricting Hearings. Opponents Urge: ‘Leave Our Maps Alone’
Opponents warned the redraw could weaken Black voting power as lawmakers prepare a special session to revise maps after the Supreme Court ruling.
- On Thursday, Mississippi lawmakers concluded their final public hearing in Jackson as attendees rallied against mid-decade redistricting, citing concerns over potential reductions in Black political representation.
- Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Callais ruling, the Joint Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting initiated eight hearings across Mississippi to address how race and party factors may be utilized when drawing political boundaries.
- Auditor Shad White sparked outrage by urging lawmakers to unseat U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson, the state's only Black congressman, prompting attendees to shout "racist" and boo the official.
- Critics, including Jackson resident Walter Boone, condemned proposals as "the Mississippi Plan 2.0," arguing race-neutral language masks harmful impacts while hundreds rallied at the Mississippi Supreme Court Building.
- The full Legislature is expected to convene in a special session this fall to finalize new legislative maps before the February 1, 2027, qualifying deadline for political candidates.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Fiery crowd caps Mississippi redistricting hearings. Opponents urge: ‘Leave our maps alone’ – WTOP News
Tempers flared Thursday at a packed redistricting hearing at the Mississippi Capitol, where a large majority of speakers criticized what they said was a power grab aimed at diminishing Black political power and further entrenching Republican dominance over state politics. The hearing in Jackson capped off a slate of often fiery public hearings that began...
Fiery crowd caps Mississippi redistricting hearings. Opponents urge: 'Leave our maps alone'
Tempers have flared at a redistricting hearing in Mississippi, where many speakers criticize a perceived power grab aimed at reducing Black political influence and strengthening Republican control.
Shad White Says Mississippi Delta ‘Deserves Better’ Than Bennie Thompson
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White appeared at Mississippi’s final redistricting hearing in Jackson to argue in favor of redistricting and said the Mississippi Delta “deserves better” than current U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a remark that earned him jeers from the audience.
Winnipeg Free Press
Fiery crowd caps Mississippi redistricting hearings. Opponents urge: ‘Leave our maps alone’
Tempers flared Thursday at a packed redistricting hearing at the Mississippi Capitol, where a large majority of speakers criticized what they said was a power grab aimed at diminishing Black political power and further entrenching Republican dominance over state politics.
Jackson rally challenges Mississippi redistricting plans
Advocates and community members rallied at the Mississippi State Capitol, voicing concerns that mid-decade redistricting could impact Black political representation in the state with the highest percentage of Black residents in the U.S.
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