Few laws changed America like the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Born from the blood and bravery of the civil-rights movement, it guaranteed that race could no longer decide who voted—or who won.

How it began

• March 7, 1965 – Bloody Sunday: Peaceful marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma were beaten by state troopers.
• March 15, 1965 – President Lyndon B. Johnson: Responding to the outrage, Johnson told Congress, “It is wrong—deadly wrong—to deny any of your fellow Americans the right to vote.”
• August 6, 1965 – The Voting Rights Act becomes law: It banned literacy tests, poll taxes, and other barriers that kept Black Americans from voting.

VRA Section 2 and Section 5—The teeth of the law

• Section 2: Outlaws any voting practice that results in discrimination, even without racist intent.
• Section 5: Required states with long histories of suppression—like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama—to get federal approval (“preclearance”) before changing election laws.

Together, they created the most powerful civil-rights safeguard in American history.

The slow dismantling

1. 1980 – City of Mobile v. Bolden: Court limited Section 2 to intentional discrimination. Congress quickly restored it in 1982.
2. 2013 – Shelby County v. Holder: Supreme Court struck down the Section 4 coverage formula, effectively ending preclearance. States could now change laws without federal oversight.
3. 2021 – Brnovich v. DNC: Court narrowed Section 2, making it harder to prove discrimination in voting rules.
4. 2025 – Callais v. Landry (pending): Louisiana case could strip Section 2 of its power in redistricting entirely.

Each ruling chipped away at protections built by Selma’s marchers.

What this means today

If the Court undercuts Section 2, states can redraw maps that dilute Black and minority votes with little chance of reversal. Gerrymandering will deepen, and representation will shrink—especially in states like Louisiana, where one-third of the people are Black but only one seat in Congress might remain majority-Black.

Why this fight still matters

The right to vote was paid for in blood. It should not depend on who sits on the Supreme Court. Every generation must defend it again.

The Voting Rights Act was a promise. Whether that promise lives or dies depends on what we do right now.

Take Action: Email Your Legislators Now

Your voice matters. These lawmakers represent you. Let them know:

“I’m a voter in your district. Keep both Black-majority congressional districts. Don’t rush to dilute our vote.”

📩 Orleans Parish

• Email all Orleans Parish Representatives
• Email Orleans Parish Senators

📩 Jefferson Parish

• Email all Jefferson Representatives
• Email Jefferson Senators

📩 St. Tammany Parish

• Email all St. Tammany Representatives
• Email St. Tammany Senators

📩 St. Bernard Parish

• Email all St. Bernard Representatives
• Email St. Bernard Senators

📩 Plaquemines Parish

• Email all Plaquemines Representatives
• Email Plaquemines Senators

Suggested Subject Line

From a concerned voter in [Your Parish]: Protect both Black-majority districts.

Suggested Message Body

Dear [Representative/Senator Name],

I urge you to protect both Black-majority congressional districts in Louisiana.
The special session should not be used to reduce representation or rush through maps before the Supreme Court rules.
Our communities deserve fairness, transparency, and equal voice.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address or Parish]