Congressional Black Caucus Statement on Republicans’ Rigged Tennessee Congressional Maps

Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

“Today, Tennessee joined Florida in passing new congressional districts after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. At President Trump’s urging, Republican Gov. Bill Lee called a special legislative session to adopt a new map dividing Shelby County, including majority-Black Memphis, into three separate districts. These same lawmakers even removed a provision in state law requiring voters to be notified when polling places change after redistricting.

“What the Tennessee Legislature did is tantamount to theft—the theft of fair representation and the deliberate stripping away of political power from Black communities. It is an attempt to silence voices and deny Black voters representation reflective of their lived experiences and the issues impacting their communities every day. The consequences will not be theoretical; they could have life-and-death ramifications for Black families and communities across Tennessee.

“As gas prices and the cost of living continue to rise as a direct result of their policies, poll after poll shows Donald Trump and Republicans headed toward defeat in the midterms. They know their only pathway to victory in November is to rig congressional maps in their favor. Republicans will stop at nothing in pursuit of single-party rule in Washington, but what they did not expect was a Democratic response this forceful.

“We applaud Democrats in the Tennessee State Legislature for fighting back for fair representation for the people of their state. We are working with partners in state legislatures across the South, alongside the legal and civil rights communities, to challenge these maps in court and mobilize our communities to the ballot box.”

SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS RULING PROTESTED AT FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN NEWARK NJ

Social justice activists and labor leaders outraged by a recent Supreme Court ruling in a major voting rights case protested at a federal district courthouse on Wednesday.

The demonstration took place May 13th at the Martin Luther King Federal Courthouse in Newark, New Jersey. It was sponsored by the People’s Organization For Progress.

“We held this protest in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case. That ruling has effectively killed the 1965 Voting Rights Act,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

“It will enable states to redraw their congressional districts and eliminate those which have majority black populations. This in turn will cause many black congressional representatives to lose their seats,” Hamm said.

He said the court’s ruling is a major set back to the African American struggle for voting rights and political representation in the United States. It will leave many states, particularly those in the South with no Black congressional representation.

“This may be one of the worst U.S. Supreme Court decisions since the ruling in the Dred Scott case of 1857 which said that black people had no rights that white people were bound to respect,” he said.

As soon as the protesters arrived they set up a picket line outside the entrance of the courthouse. They chanted and drummed while carrying signs and banners.

Courthouse security came outside and watched them from the steps but did not interfere. Drones hovered above the demonstrators for several hours until the conclusion of the protest.

Through the loudspeaker that they brought with them their chants could be heard several blocks away. During the protest they had a number of speakers representing community, labor, and religious groups.

Unlike most demonstrations where the crowd stops to listen to the speakers, during this event they made their presentations during the picketing. The picket line never stopped moving. It continued until the demonstration was over.

Hamm opened the rally saying the protesters were there to oppose this “abominable” decision by the court and that they demanded the restoration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“We demand that Congress pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act at the federal level. We demand that the state legislature pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey. It has been passed by the Assembly now we want it passed by the Senate,” he said.

“We also demand the reform and restructuring of the Supreme Court. Lifetime appointments must end, term limits should be imposed, and stronger ethics laws should be put in place,” he said.

Speakers at the rally included Deborah Smith-Gregory, President, NAACP Newark, Larry Hirsch, President, Local 913 American Federation of Government Employees, Daryn Martin, Secretary-Treasurer, District 1199J, and Rev Michael Corso, Sophia Inclusive Community.

Other speakers there were Jimmy Small, Chairman, Muslim League of Voters of New Jersey, Zayid Muhammad, New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing, and Assatta Mann-Colon, Community Organizing Manager, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

Additional speakers addressed the crowd including Heather Richner, Associate Counsel for the Democracy and Justice Program, Rev Anya Sammler, Senior Co-Minister Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, Evelyn Williams, Vice Chairwoman, South Ward Democratic Committee, and Larry Adams, Vice Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress.

An earlier written statement announcing the protest also called for the expansion of the court from nine to thirteen justices to allow for the appointment of four liberal members to break the ideological stranglehold of the current right wing super majority on the court.

During the demonstration the protesters called for the impeachment of those justices that were part of the court majority that issued the ruling in the Callais case. They also called for the impeachment of President Trump.

For more information please call People’s Organization for Progress at 973 801-0001.

Lupus Foundation of America Rallies Communities to Make Lupus Visible for Lupus Awareness Month

Throughout the month of May, the Lupus Foundation of America is encouraging people living with lupus, friends, family members and partners to be loud and use their voices more than ever before to Make Lupus Visible for Lupus Awareness Month. The nationwide and global effort will raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of lupus, amplify the real-life stories of the day-to-day impact of living with lupus, and raise funds to support lupus research, education programs and support services.

Lupus is a complex and debilitating chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system is unable to tell the difference between healthy tissue and foreign invaders. This can result in inflammation, debilitating pain and damage to any organ system in the body. The symptoms of lupus often impact day-to-day life and can cause serious, and even fatal, complications, including lupus nephritis (lupus-related kidney disease) which can impact up to 60% of people with lupus and lead to kidney failure.

While lupus can affect anyone, nine out of 10 people with lupus are women and the disease disproportionately impacts certain racial and ethnic backgrounds including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander. An estimated 1.5 million Americans are living with lupus.

To help raise awareness of this misunderstood disease, the Lupus Foundation of America is featuring an interactive online Know Lupus Quiz as a key component of this year's Make Lupus Visible campaign. The quiz tests participants' knowledge about lupus, provides the correct answer following each question and directs the participant to helpful resources for more information. Participants are also asked to share the quiz on social media, and with friends and family, so that more people understand the devastating impact of lupus and to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of lupus that help reduce time to diagnosis.

"Lupus Awareness Month is a reminder to everyone impacted by lupus of the incredible power our collective voices can have on so many around us," said Louise Vetter, President & CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. "Just by taking the Know Lupus Quiz and sharing it with others, you can make someone with lupus feel more understood or raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of lupus so they can have an informed conversation with their doctor - conversations that are key in reducing time to diagnosis."

The Know Lupus Quiz is just the start of ways to get involved during May. While many symptoms of lupus may be invisible, throughout the month, the Lupus Foundation of America is encouraging everybody to take part in making lupus visible by:

• Raising the awareness of lupus by sharing facts and resources using the Lupus Foundation of America's awareness toolkit.
• Joining the lupus community on May 10 for Put on Purple for World Lupus Day by loudly and proudly wearing purple, sharing why raising lupus awareness is important to you, and using facts and shareables from the World Lupus Federation Toolkit to spark conversation and highlight the importance of understanding this disease.
• Tune in to the hundreds of streamers participating in Game On! To End Lupus, where content creators livestream to fundraise, raise awareness and unite to end lupus all May long.
• Hosting a fundraiser or starting a Facebook fundraiser, and inviting your community to support the fight to end lupus.
• Donate to support lupus research, resources and education programs, and support services.

"The Lupus Foundation of America invites everyone to Make Lupus Visible this May - each voice adds power to our fight to reduce time to diagnosis, accelerate research for better treatments and make a world without lupus a reality," added Ms. Vetter.

For more information on Lupus Awareness Month and how to get involved, visit www.lupus.org/lupusawarenessmonth.

POP CHAIRMAN LAWRENCE HAMM ENDORSES MAYOR RAS BARAKA FOR RE-ELECTION

A longtime civil rights activist has announced his support for the re-election of the current mayor of Newark in the city’s upcoming Municipal election on Tuesday, May 12th. 

“I am endorsing Ras Baraka for mayor of Newark because I believe that at this time he is the best choice among the candidates running in the city’s upcoming general election,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated. 

“He is the most qualified and he is the most experienced of those in the race. Regarding the workings of government at the local, state and federal levels he is the most knowledgeable.” Hamm said. 

“During this period of instability in the country it is important for the city to have strong, steady and dependable leadership. We find those qualities in the mayor,” he said. 

“This is not to say that he has not had challenges, or that he won’t have challenges to face in the future,” he said. 

“However, it is to say that over the years he has accumulated a record of accomplishments and that he is prepared to handle future problems,” Hamm, a former candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 and 2024, stated.

Hamm has been a supporter of the mayor for many years. As an activist he first became involved with the mayor’s father poet, playwright, author, educator, and activist Amiri Baraka in 1971. 

He has endorsed all four of Ras Baraka’s campaigns for mayor. In the aftermath of Amiri Baraka’s passing in 2014 Hamm endorsed Ras Baraka’s first campaign for mayor that year. 

Since then he endorsed the next three subsequent mayoral campaigns and last year’s gubernatorial campaign. 

Hamm went on to say that he has endorsed Mayor Baraka because he is politically progressive and has been outspoken on a number of issues that are a part of the progressive agenda. 

Some of these include jobs and economic justice, raising the federal minimum wage, universal basic income, police brutality, reparations to African Americans for slavery, and defending immigrant rights. 

He established Newark’s first police review board and supports legislation to give police review boards subpoena powers. Having such powers would make these review boards more effective in their investigations, deliberations, and decision making. 

“I am supporting the mayor is because he speaks out on issues that affect working people, poor people, and people of color even when those issue are controversial,” he said. 

“Again and again I have seen him speak at rallies, marches, demonstrations, and protests of those struggling against injustice,” Hamm said. 

“On Election Day, Tuesday, May 12th, I urge Newark residents to vote Ras Baraka for mayor of Newark,” he said. 

POP CHAIRMAN LAWRENCE HAMM CALLS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING AND CHANGING SUPREME COURT IN RESPONSE TO VOTING RIGHTS CASE

(Statement by Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress on the U.S. Supreme Court decision concerning the Louisiana v. Callais voting rights case.)

This U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Louisiana v. Callais voting rights case is the latest salvo in President Trump’s racist war on Black people in this country. It must not go unanswered, and neither should there be a tepid response. There must be strong nationwide condemnation of this outrage. 

Prior to this most recent Supreme Court decision, at the urging of President Trump, Texas and other Republican controlled states started mid-decade redistricting of their congressional maps to increase the number of Republican members of the House of Representatives. 

Normally redistricting takes place at the end of a decade after the completion of the census. Trump and his Republicans sensing that they may lose their majority during the midterm elections have chosen to gerrymander congressional lines now in an attempt to insure the election of a Republican majority to the House. 

In response, a handful of Democratic controlled states like California have taken steps to redraw their congressional maps in order to increase the number of Democratic House members they are sending to Washington. 

This latest Supreme Court decision will intensify the struggle already in progress between the two major parties to acquire a majority of house seats during the midterm elections. The court ruling could result in the loss of as many as 16 Democratic congressional seats now held by African Americans.

There are 435 voting members of the House of Representative. It takes 218 to make a simple majority. Republicans currently control the house having 218 representatives. There are 213 Democrats in the House. 

African Americans hold 61 seats, with 59 voting members and two non-voting delegates. There are 57 Democrats and 4 Republicans. 

It is imperative to defeat the MAGA Republicans in the upcoming midterm congressional elections. Democrats must take back the majority in the house to stem the tide of regressive policies coming out of Congress. 

Democrats should not sit idly by and let Republicans steal the election by redrawing the congressional map to give themselves an election proof majority. Too much is at stake. Democrats must fight back. 

If Republicans can redraw their maps then Democratic controlled states should do the same. Democrats should redraw congressional maps in their states now in order to increase their numbers so that they can have a fighting chance of winning the midterm elections. 

The composition and structure of the Supreme Court must be changed. If we do not do this then the court will be an impediment to progress for the rest of our lives. Several bills have been introduced to reform the court which should be considered. 

Lifetime appointments to the court must end, term limits should be imposed, and the number of justices on the court should be expanded to 13 which equals the number of federal circuit courts of appeals. 

In addition to supporting mid-decade redistricting and restructuring the Supreme Court we must engage in massive voter registration, education and mobilization. This latest ruling came from right wing Supreme Court Justices who were appointed. They were appointed by Republican presidents who were elected. 

Midterm elections are being held this year for members of the House and Senate. We must vote in record numbers to elect Democratic majorities in both houses.

A Democratic majority in the Senate could take action to block Trump appointees to the court should any seats become vacant while he is still in office. With majorities in both houses impeachment proceedings could be initiated against Trump which could slow down and stifle judicial appointments. 

Along with voting we need nationwide protests to mobilize opposition against the appointment of additional right wing justices to the Supreme Court. Protests are a way of drawing attention to and educating people about the damage that this court has done with regards to people’s rights and the democratic process. 

In addition to demonstrations we should also consider engaging in various forms of civil disobedience. Since the court is taking away rights that were won through protest and civil disobedience then we should not be reluctant to employ those tactics to protect and restore those rights. 

We must also consider using boycotts, selective buying, divestment, strikes, and other economic sanctions to compel state governments, federal government, and the courts to stop interfering with, diluting, and attempting to eliminate our ability and right to vote. 

Last year the idea of a general strike gained national attention. General strikes have had degrees of success locally in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other cities. We should continue to discuss and push for a national general strike until we reach the levels of support needed to make it happen.  

We must support federal and state legislation to protect and restore voting rights. At the federal level we should continue to call for passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025. At the state level we demand passage of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey.

We must also oppose Trump’s Save Act which would place more restrictions on voting, and his efforts to end mail-in ballots. Same day voter registration legislation should be supported, as should legislation to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, and other bills aimed at getting big money out of elections and the judicial selection process. 

For more information please call People’s Organization for Progress at 973 801-0001.