REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF THE VRA, SECTION 5

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Wednesday, February 27, Congressman Marc Veasey delivered the following remarks in support of the Voting Rights Act, Section 5. Preceding oral arguments for Shelby County v. Holder, Rep. Veasey participated in a rally outside the Supreme Court and was joined by other Members of Congress, community leaders and activists.

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Good morning. I’m Congressman Marc Veasey, representing Texas’ 33rd Congressional District.

Today, I join my fellow colleagues in Congress, community leaders and activists to support Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. With oral arguments for the Shelby County v. Holder case beginning shortly, I want to reiterate how important it is for the Supreme Court to uphold Section 5.

In my home state of Texas, the need for Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is playing out dramatically. As a plaintiff in the on-going redistricting case, Quesada v. The State of Texas, I can flatly state that overt and deliberate racial discrimination is still a tool used by leaders in Texas. Section 5 protects minorities from racially discriminatory voter ID laws, voter suppression tactics and discriminatory redistricting plans.

In Texas, Republican lawmakers used overt racially discriminatory tactics to isolate and suppress hundreds of thousands of minority voters during the state’s most recent redistricting efforts. Minorities were packed or cracked precinct by precinct and block by block in order to deny hundreds of thousands of minority voters their right to elect their candidate of choice. The right to vote and the right for one’s voice to be heard through elected representation is a legally enacted constitutional right that many have bled and died for. Yet, we are still fighting for this very right. Some say it’s time to move on, but my dear friends these rights are not just at risk but under attack.

The Voting Rights Act – and most importantly – Section 5 are still urgently needed to ensure that all voters have equal protection under the law. This is why I am a plaintiff in the Texas redistricting case, in which two federal courts found the state map to be intentionally discriminatory. This is also why I will continue fighting to uphold Section 5 to protect the rights of all Americans.

I am confident that the Supreme Court will protect all Americans from discrimination and uphold our constitutional right to vote.

We ask the American people to join us in our support for upholding Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

Thank you.”

###