FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 02/14/2022
Contact: Joselle Torres, Communications Manager, Democracy North Carolina
Email: joselle@democracync.org
**PRESS CONFERENCE: TUESDAY 02/15/22**
STATEWIDE ADVOCATES CALL FOR TRANSPARENT, FAIR, AND EQUITABLE REDRAWING OF VOTING MAPS
RALEIGH, N.C. (02/14/2022) — In a 4-3 decision, N.C.’s Supreme Court threw out the state’s congressional and legislative maps on Feb. 4, 2022, calling the maps “unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt.” Included in the order to redraw, the NCGA must do a racially-polarized voting (RPV) analysis and draw VRA-compliant maps. The N.C. Legislature has until Feb. 18 to submit an alternative redistricting plan.
The North Carolina Supreme Court’s historic decision affirms voters’ fundamental right to freely choose their own representatives, preventing any politician, Republican or Democratic, from rigging voting maps for their own personal gain. The Feb. 4th ruling was also an unequivocal win for North Carolina’s Black voters, who were most harmed by these extreme partisan gerrymanders. The majority’s order explicitly lays out easily understood and applicable redistricting methods and neutral redistricting criteria.
Statewide advocacy groups, including Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina Black Alliance, El Pueblo, El Centro NC, North Carolina Asian Americans Together, League of Women Voters NC, NC Counts Coalition, and ACLU of North Carolina, as well as residents from across the state, will discuss what the N.C. Supreme Court decision means for North Carolina voters and future elections at a press conference at the North Carolina General Assembly.
WHAT: Press conference to discuss redistricting and gerrymandering in North Carolina
WHEN: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2022
WHERE: North Carolina General Assembly at 16 W Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
WHO:
- Reggie Weaver, North Carolina Black Alliance
- Maria Gonzalez, El Pueblo
- Chavi Khanna Koneru, NC Asian Americans Together
- Jo Nicholas, League of Women Voters NC
- Mario Alfaro, El Centro NC
- Conchita McIver, Democracy North Carolina
- Martha Shafer, Guilford County Resident
- Keith Graham, Bladen County Resident
- Kyle Brazile, NC Counts Coalition