Louisiana voters head to Washington D.C. for historic Supreme Court case
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Busloads of Louisiana voters are traveling to Washington, D.C. for a historic U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the state's congressional redistricting case.
Residents from the Baton Rouge and New Orleans metro areas will make the trip on Saturday to attend the hearing for Louisiana v. Callais, scheduled for Monday, March 24. The case could have major implications for the future of Louisiana's congressional map and the representation of Black voters in the state.
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'The State of Louisiana and its legislature were forced by a federal judge to draw fair maps, and so that's how we were able to get a second majority-minority congressional seat. And then Callais challenged that map, saying it was a racial gerrymander. Indeed, it was not,' said Ashley Shelton, President and CEO of Power Coalition.
Shelton emphasized that the case is a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for fair representation.
'This map was created by the Louisiana Legislature. There were significant political undertones in its creation. And for us, it's like the State of Louisiana and its elected leaders actually drew a fair map,' she said.
Dozens of advocates, legal experts, and community leaders dedicated to protecting voting rights will attend the hearing, reinforcing the importance of ensuring Black voters—who make up nearly one-third of Louisiana's population—have an equal voice in the democratic process.
'We're hopeful that we'll be victorious. We'll have the opening arguments on Monday and certainly wait for the court's decision in June,' Shelton added.
The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, which is organizing the trip, is committed to empowering Louisiana communities through civic engagement, advocacy, and policy change. The organization works to educate and mobilize voters to create a more just and equitable future.
Meanwhile, Louisiana voters are also preparing for the March 29 election. Shelton and the Power Coalition are urging residents to research the issues before heading to the polls.
'The March election is typically a much lower turnout election, and we want to ensure people understand there are four constitutional amendments on this ballot statewide. These amendments change our constitution,' Shelton said.
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