(Washington, D.C.) — The U.S. Census Bureau released the first local level results of the 2020 Census data Thursday, including information about race and voting-age population. The release of today’s data will allow states to begin the redistricting process, in which they will redraw congressional and state legislative districts.
The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
“As the 2021 redistricting cycle gets underway, it is imperative that states do not minimize the collective voting power of communities of color at the expense of democracy. We need legislative maps that include input from Black Americans and other people of color, to ensure these communities receive fair representation and an equitable amount of federal resources. For far too long, these communities have been locked out of the process, but we can make certain that is not the case this year.
“It is also important for districts to be compliant with the Voting Rights Act, and not dilute the voice of people of color. The Lawyers’ Committee is engaging with partners in more than a dozen states all across the nation, including Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas to fight for fair and accurate legislative maps. All Americans must be able to choose their representatives, and representatives should not be able to pick their voters.”
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About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visit https://lawyerscommittee.org.
