Latest news with #JarvisDortch
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
ACLU, partners file lawsuit challenging Mississippi's DEI ban
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A federal lawsuit had been filed against the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), Mississippi Community College Board, Mississippi State Board of Education, and the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. The lawsuit, filed by ACLU of Mississippi, Mississippi Center for Justice, Badat Legal and Quinn, Connor, Weaver, Davies & Rouco LLP, the challenges the constitutionality of House Bill 1193 of the 2025 legislative session. With budget approved, Mississippi lawmakers look ahead to 2026 session According to the complaint, House Bill 1193 violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution by imposing the state government's preferred views on matters of public concern – like race, gender and sexuality – on students, educators and families across Mississippi and censoring contrary views. The complaint also alleges that some of the provisions of the law are vague and contradictory that students and educators do not know what they can and cannot do at school. 'Members of the Mississippi Legislature may very well be incapable of having productive discussions on race, gender, or our state's history. That doesn't mean our educators and students aren't up to handling difficult conversations,' said Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi. 'The First Amendment protects the right to share ideas, including teachers' and students' right to receive and exchange knowledge. Open and honest dialogue benefits all students and, if given a try, it would benefit the Mississippi Legislature.' 250609_complaint_challenging_ms_dei_law_final_0Download Plaintiffs allege that the law, which was passed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), would ban teachers and students from discussing slavery, the Civil War, various forms of discrimination in the past and present, the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage and women's rights movements and the LGBTQ rights movement. Plaintiffs asked the federal court in Jackson find various provisions of the law to be unconstitutional in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of the plaintiffs and to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from being enforced, followed later by a permanent injunction. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSoto Co., ACLU oppose Mississippi redistricting plans
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Redistricting plans in Mississippi could be one step closer to becoming a reality. The state's House and Senate passed the proposals on Wednesday. Lawmakers have had their say on redistricting plans for parts of Mississippi, but a federal court will make the final decision. If it is approved, the redistricting maps that passed in Mississippi's House and Senate could bring some major changes. It would impact voters and elections the most. Mississippi election officials argue against quick work on drawing new majority-Black districts 'If the court agrees with the plans submitted by the State, then there will be elections in the fall, primary elections, then general elections for these new districts and all the districts that are impacted,' said Jarvis Dortch, the executive director for the ACLU of Mississippi. 'I think it's about 15 in all. Ten on the Senate side and five in the House.' Dortch says this all stems from a lawsuit that was filed in 2022. Dortch says legal action was taken because 2022 district maps failed to reflect the Black population growth in Mississippi, which was recorded in the 2020 census. The ACLU says its biggest concern was the potential of silenced Black voters. 'We presented several different plans in that litigation, showing that you can create more majority Black districts in parts of the state and the court agreed with us on the ability to do that in DeSoto County and Hattiesburg, and also in Chickasaw County on the House side,' Dortch said. After the judge's ruling, the Senate and House were ordered to redraw the maps. But, lawmakers, leaders and some members of the community are not happy about it. The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors released a statement on Tuesday that announced its decision to hire legal counsel to explore any legal options that can be used to oppose the Senate's redistricting plan. 📡 for Memphis and the Mid-South. 📧 and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Dortch says he is also dissatisfied with the proposal. He says the ACLU of Mississippi plans to object to it because the newly drawn maps fail to create additional opportunities for Black voters, specifically in DeSoto and Chickasaw Counties. 'So that district that it creates now, which is currently held by a Black senator and Black voters have a choice in who they elect to that district, it really looks like a district where that wouldn't be the case anymore,' Dortch said. The ACLU of Mississippi says it is also unhappy with the lack of communication among lawmakers and the community. The group plans to hold community meetings soon in DeSoto County to further discuss the redistricting proposal and what it means for residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
