FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Feldman Strategies, team@feldmanstrategies.com
Leading Black FL Community Org Reacts to Appeals Court Decision in Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute v. Byrd setting “dangerous precedent for the erosion of voting rights”
VIRTUAL — Today, the First District Court of Appeals overturned the Circuit Court’s August ruling in Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute v. Byrd – which declared the enacted map unconstitutional and enjoined the Secretary of State from using that map in future congressional elections – thus allowing the unconstitutional map directly diminishing the power of Black voters to stand.
Genesis Robinson, Political Director for Equal Ground, a plaintiff in the case and the preeminent Black-led, non-partisan, non-profit organization working to expand Black political power in Florida, released the following statement reaction to today’s decision:
“Today’s ruling by the First District Court of Appeals sets a dangerous precedent for the erosion of voting rights in Florida.
“From the very beginning, Gov. DeSantis has been using the voting rights of Black Floridians as pawns in his game of political ambition. When voters overwhelmingly passed the Fair District Amendments in 2010, this was the very type of political corruption and partisan favoritism they sought to rid from our state.
“Every Floridian should be gravely concerned that their Judicial system is turning a blind eye to state-sanctioned voter suppression. How are Black voters in Florida supposed to have equal representation under the law when the diminishment of their voting rights goes unchecked?
“We will not stop fighting, and we will continue to explore all of our options to stop the unchecked extremist power in our state and to protect the voting rights of all Floridians. ”
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