Judith Browne-Dianis provides poignant notes on the state of our democracy. The Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act three years ago. Now vestiges of Jim Crow are back.
Asides
Scalia Vacancy Impacts USSC Decisions
Here’s a nice graphic with the breakdown of USSC decisions.
VA Governor Defends Restoration Order
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe defended his decision to restore the voting rights to more than 200,000 persons. Criticism from those who believe that the punishment should continue long after citizens have completed their sentences, including probation and parole, has been relentless. In the first month of the governor’s order, approximately 6,000 persons registered to vote; compared with less than 2,000 the previous year. You can read more here:
Supreme Court Decides Texas Affirmative Action Case
The US Supreme court in a 4-3 decision upheld the use of race as a factor at the University of Texas. This means that other schools who use race as one of many factors in its admissions decisions should feel a little more secure for now. Read more here.
Tuesday round-up — SCOTUSblog
Important USSC cases decided; more on the Georgia case next…
Yesterday the Court issued three rulings in argued cases. Molly Runkle rounded up early coverage and commentary for this blog. NPR’s Nina Totenberg had an overview of all three cases. More coverage of yesterday’s opinion in Foster v. Chatman, holding by a vote of seven to one that the Supreme Court of Georgia’s decision that…
Connecting Dr. King’s “March on Ballot Boxes” Speech to Today’s Realities
Here’s an interesting article that connects past and present realities. GRD
Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. made his first public visit to South Carolina to deliver a speech on a school field in Kingstree about the importance of voting. About 5,000 came out on a rainy day to hear him.
Source: Post and Courier
Civil Rights Today 