Patricia,
Yesterday, the unelected Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act.
The Callais v. Louisiana decision is a serious blow to the right to government representation for Natives and Communities of Color, and to the protections won through generations of struggle.
This ruling is an act of voter suppression. It denies our right to elect candidates who share our lived experiences. The Supreme Court decimated the foundation for an inclusive and multiracial democracy, which provided Native peoples and other Communities of Color protection from racist voter suppression and partisan gerrymandering in Congressional and state elections.
Our communities are already denied the right to vote by state laws designed to discourage our people from voting by mail or with tribal IDs, to force our people to drive long distances to register and vote, and more. That is racial discrimination, and yesterday’s ruling fortifies this rigged electoral system by making it next to impossible to protect our communities from racial injustices.
When we are unable to vote or have a fair chance at electing people from our communities, our political voice is weakened -- at a time when sovereignty, our treaty rights such as the right to healthcare, and human rights are under attack.
This is a moment for all of us to speak up for everyone's right to have equal access to voting and representation in government, and for the multiracial democracy we all deserve.
Please add your name to demand Congress protect voting rights, reform the Supreme Court, and ensure a truly multiracial democratic political system that works for all of the people living on Turtle Island.
Our partners at the Native American Rights Fund and the National Congress of American Indians spoke out against this ruling, saying:
“This decision mocks our shared democratic principles and will have a direct impact on people’s lives… Native American communities and other voters of color continue to face unique and unreasonable obstacles to voting and having their votes count.”
This latest Supreme Court ruling ignores the reality that discrimination in voting is not past tense; it is still with us and continues to impact our communities.
Additionally, Native peoples’ right to vote is intertwined with our right to sovereignty and self-governance over our lands, our communities, and our resources.
Since the beginning of time, our people have organized, led, and protected one another. We have never depended on one court decision or one unjust law to define our future. We have a legal, inherent, and moral right to be a part of the governance of this land.
Please take action to strengthen democratic safeguards and voting rights today by signing the coalition petition to Congress.
At the heart of Tribal sovereignty is the ability to be part of the decisions affecting our communities and our territories.
With your support, Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund will keep strengthening the movement for democracy and stand with all who are ready to say no to unjust government policies.
We’ll keep working with Tribal Nations, Native voters, and partners across the country to expand self-governance and access to the ballot, ensure our voices are heard, and build a more deeply democratic society for all -- where all of our communities can participate in the decisions that affect our lives.
Hawwih (thank you) for taking action today,
Judith LeBlanc (Caddo)
Executive Director
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