Federal Court Rejects Rep. LaRoque's Challenge to the Voting Rights Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 23, 2011

For More Information:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

                                                Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

           Jennifer Marsh, Legal Redress Coordinator, 919-682-4700 

Federal Court Rejects Rep. LaRoque's Challenge to the Voting Rights Act

(DURHAM) - The US District Court for the District of Columbia rendered an opinion yesterday on the Kinston-based case LaRoque v. Holder. The court rejected a challenge to a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that ensures minorities' right to vote. The Court ruled for the North Carolina NAACP, finding that Congress had ample evidence to justify enacting the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act with the 2006 amendments. The case, brought by several plaintiffs including a member of NC House of Representatives, Stephen LaRoque, challenges the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

The Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union intervened in the case on behalf of the NC NAACP and six minority residents. The challenge by the NC NAACP comes in response to concentrated efforts by ultra-conservative political operatives in North Carolina who are intent upon undermining the voting protections for African-Americans and other racial minorities. They are using race-based, aggressive and ill-advised efforts to prevent minorities from fully participating in the North Carolina political process. As it has for over 102 years, the NAACP is engaged in ongoing efforts to maximize the political power of racial minorities and will never back down to from fighting efforts to destroy the Voting Rights Act and the guarantees of the 15th Amendment. 

"The Court's decision to protect the fundamentals of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a stand for justice and equality," said Rev. Dr. William J Barber, II, President of the North Carolina NAACP. "Voting rights are under attack across the country. Fourteen states have already passed voter suppression laws that limit access to the polls and disproportionately impact minorities, poor people, young people, students and the elderly. Minority voting power is under attack through redistricting plans that marginalize minority voters, packing them into a few segregated districts so their influence is muted. We applaud the Court for recognizing the importance of the Voting Rights Act in protecting the right to vote."

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a hard-fought, landmark civil rights law that helps protect African American's and other minorities' right to vote. Under Section 5 of the VRA, certain states with a history of voter suppression must have changes to their election laws approved to ensure they are not discriminatory. Forty counties in North Carolina are protected under Section 5 of the VRA.

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