Obama condemns SC ruling on Voting Rights Act, urges Dems to ‘mobilize and vote in record numbers’

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Barack Obama delivered a blunt rebuke of the Supreme Court’s Wednesday ruling that struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana as “an unconstitutional gerrymander” and hinted that it dealt a blow to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

However, he mentioned that such setbacks can be "overcome," and called on supporters of the Democratic Party to mobilize and vote in "record numbers."

The 64-year-old Democrat released a sharply worded statement on Thursday, April 30, accusing the Supreme Court of “freeing state legislatures to gerrymander legislative districts to systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities - so long as they do it under the guise of 'partisanship' rather than explicit ‘racial bias.’”

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled that a Louisiana congressional map violated the 14th Amendment and was racially discriminatory against a group of white voters.

The court also limited how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a provision passed in 1965 that broadly outlawed discrimination in voting on the basis of race, can be applied in redistricting cases.

Obama flags threat to ‘equal participation’

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 expanded access to the ballot for Black voters across local, state, and federal elections, reshaping American democracy and paving the way for broader multiracial representation.

However, Obama believes the Supreme Court’s most recent ruling is essentially upending that progress.

“It serves as just one more example of how a majority of the current Court seems intent on abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy and protecting the rights of minority groups against majority overreach,” his statement read.

To overcome this ruling, the former President asked Democrats to “mobilize” and “vote in record numbers.”

“The good news is that such setbacks can be overcome. But that will only happen if citizens across the country who cherish our democratic ideals continue to mobilize and vote in record numbers – not just in the upcoming midterms or in high-profile races, but in every election and every level,” his statement noted.

Kamala Harris rebukes Supreme Court ruling

Kamala Harris, former Vice President and the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, also blasted the Supreme Court ruling, calling it ‘outrageous.’

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling guts the Voting Rights Act and turns back the clock on the foundational promise of equality and fairness in our election systems,” her statement read.

“Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was one of the last remaining federal protections for Black and brown voters against maps deliberately drawn to dilute their political power. That protection has been stripped away. It is an outrage. But it is not a surprise.”

She also stated that the ruling was “motivated by politics” and intended to “give an upper hand to Donald Trump’s Republican Party, which faces the threat of losing the upcoming midterm elections.”

“The mission before us is to restore the power of the people. There is no question our fight became harder today, but I know we are up for the battle,” the statement added.