WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Supreme Court further weakened the landmark protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement from NYCLU Voting Rights Project Director Perry Grossman:
“Today’s shameful decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to further weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is ahistoric, ignores and misreads constitutional history and precedent, and undermines equitable participation in our democracy. In New York, our state constitution leads with strong and independent protections for the right to vote, freedom of speech and association, and against discrimination. These independent state constitutional protections are cornerstones of our federal system and undergird the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York and other state voting rights acts.
“In the wake of the Court’s decision, New York and states across the country can and must continue to defend the right to vote, encourage civic participation, and work to eradicate the racial discrimination that still persists — despite the Court’s whitewashing.”
###
