Advancing Justice-Atlanta celebrates Decision to Halt Redistricting Efforts During Special Session
Atlanta, GA. —In a victory for fair representation, civil rights advocates, and the multi-racial electorate, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta celebrates Georgia leaders’ decision not to redraw Georgia’s political maps during the special legislative session called by Governor Kemp.
This reversal comes as a direct result of Georgians standing in solidarity to protect our democracy. Over the past weeks, our communities organized, flooded legislative inboxes, and prepared to show up at the Capitol. As Georgians’ across the state made loud demands for transparency and fair representation, lawmakers announced today that they would not pursue late-decade redistricting during the upcoming special session.
“This victory is a powerful testament to what happens when our communities stand in solidarity and refuse to be sidelined,” said Jennifer Lee, Policy Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta. “Our rapidly growing AAPI and AMEMSA community showed its true strength through our deep solidarity with Black and brown partners across Georgia. We must remain vigilant as we brace, not only for potential future late-decade redistricting efforts, but also for other repressive tactics that may emerge in the lead up to November’s midterm elections”.
This special session, called on the heels of harmful Louisiana v. Callais' ruling was a transparent attempt to dilute the voting power of communities of color. While we celebrate a win for community accountability today, our fight for a transparent, fair, and truly representative electorate and process in Georgia does not stop here.
"The Voting Rights Act was secured through the blood and sacrifice of Black communities and allies. The Callais decision is the latest effort to undermine that legacy, deploying redrawn maps as a tool to erase the political power of communities of color. Georgia's communities responded with clarity and force,” said Murtaza Khwaja, Executive Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta. “Collective people power won today, and will continue our pursuit for a truly multiracial democracy will not stop here."
Advancing Justice-Atlanta will continue to stand with black and brown communities, advocates and partners to monitor the remainder of the special session, safeguard our access to the ballot, and ensure our communities’ voices can never be drawn out of the map.
