Dear John,

Our partners at the ACLU ([link removed]) , the Legal Defense Fund ([link removed]) , and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights ([link removed]) , have compiled resources for advocates, including state legislators, to help you and your constituents understand what the recent SCOTUS decision in Callais v. Landry means for voting rights. We’ve pasted some of those resources into this email for ease of reference. Additional resources will be linked below the body of this email.

We will be back in touch with new resources as partners develop proposals for actions states can take to reaffirm the rights of minority voters. In the meantime, if you have not yet reconnected with your state’s leading pro-democracy advocates, now is the time to do so and begin collaborating on a state-specific response to the ruling. For more information or assistance connecting with state-level advocates in response to this case, please respond to this email.

What happened in Callais v. Landry?

The Court struck down one of Louisiana's majority-Black congressional districts — a district drawn specifically to comply with the Voting Rights Act (VRA) — and declared it an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. They’ve made Section 2, a key part of the VRA, virtually unenforceable in redistricting cases. This gives extremist politicians a green light to continue silencing the voices of their voters.

The decision affects not only congressional redistricting but challenges to state legislative and local election systems across the country.

For deeper background on the case, please review SiX’s background memo on the Callais decision. This document will be updated with new information and analysis from core partners.
Memo on the SCOTUS Decision ([link removed])

Key Messages
* The Court’s decision threatens to further divide our nation and entrench power in the hands of the few. It puts the diversity of our elected bodies and representation of all communities at risk.
* The decision is a devastating blow to critical civil rights protections by permitting states to use partisan gerrymandering as a wholesale excuse to deny Black voters a voice in their government.
* Voters of color should have a fair say in our democracy. Extremist politicians should not choose their voters – voters should choose their politicians. This is a day of shame for the Court.
* We do not have to settle for pessimism. We must fight for the future of our multiracial democracy – in our legislatures, in the courts, and at the ballot box. And we will.


Additional Resources and Information
* Talking points ([link removed]) from core partners
* Press releases from partners:
+ ACLU ([link removed])
+ Legal Defense Fund ([link removed])
+ Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights ([link removed])
* SiX Background Memo on Callais v. Landry ([link removed])
* DOs and DON’Ts ([link removed]) : Research Collaborative and ASO Communications
* Black Voters Matter Report ([link removed]) : 191 State Legislative and 19 Congressional Districts at Risk in Callais v. Landry
* Black Voters Matter Report ([link removed]) : What Happens in the South Doesn’t Stay in the South


Thank you for the leadership you bring to your state and your communities. Please reach out if you need additional resourcing and support in this moment.

In Solidarity,

Hudson McCormick

SiX Director of Training, Shared Tactics and Training

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