The event, entitled “Fair Maps for a Fair Future,” featured North Carolina college students and recent graduates who are participating in Democracy North Carolina’s summer internship program, Democracy Summer.
The group displayed a “wall” of constituent messages in front of the legislature representing over 10,000 N.C. petition signers. They called on lawmakers to end racial gerrymandering and support fair voting maps. Following the rally the students met with their lawmakers to voice their desire for a public hearing on redistricting reform.
Opening the rally was Ajamu Dillahunt, a 20-year-old rising junior at North Carolina Central University in Durham.
“I am here today to represent the hundreds of thousands of young voters — from Asheville to Greenville — who understand that until we end the racial and partisan gerrymandering that plagues our state, until we build champions for fair voting maps inside and outside of the People’s House, and until we are able to pick our representatives, not the other way around, there will be no justice for us,” said Dillahunt. “A lack of fair maps remains a barrier to our fair future.”
“Until we build champions for fair voting maps inside and outside of the People’s House, and until we are able to pick our representatives, not the other way around, there will be no justice for us.” –Ajamu Dillahunt, N.C. Central University
Southeastern Regional Democracy Summer intern Chyna Melton, who recently graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone, was hopeful that her support for redistricting reform would be adopted by lawmakers.
“I am here today because from Boone, where I went to college, to Fayetteville where I have my office, lawmakers have skillfully gerrymandered my state, packing and cracking pockets of voters like me to nullify my vote and my voice,” said Melton. “As a young voter and activist, it is important for me push for fair maps to reflect a true democracy and, through my words and actions today, encourage others to do the same. It is my abiding hope that this will give purpose to our votes and prove that our votes do matter.”
“Every day we see these same young voters collecting petitions, making calls, canvassing their neighbors and hosting in-district meetings — all with the goal to build champions for redistricting reform inside the legislature as well. It’s time for lawmakers to listen.” –Bob Hall, Democracy NC
This week, the N.C. House pulled from consideration this session House Bill 717, legislation that voting rights advocates said would gerrymander judicial districts statewide. The legislation will likely be revived later in the year when lawmakers themselves return for a special session to redraw legislative districts ruled to be unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.
Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy North Carolina, said its time lawmakers finally heard young voters’ demands for fair maps.
“A dozen years ago, we challenged Democrats in control of the legislature to reform the redistricting process. Today, North Carolinians — especially young people — think the way state legislators craft their political districts is unfair and too influenced by partisan politics,” said Hall. “Every day we see these same young voters collecting petitions, making calls, canvassing their neighbors and hosting in-district meetings — all with the goal to build champions for redistricting reform inside the legislature as well. It’s time for lawmakers to listen.”