LULAC Calls New Texas Redistricting Map Blatant Voter Suppression Of Latinos
Nation’s Largest and Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization Warns Legal Action is Ahead Again to Defend Voter Rights
Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued the following statement after the new Texas redistricting map for Congressional seats was released Monday.
Domingo Garcia – LULAC National President
“The Texas Congressional district maps released today are a travesty of justice and a violation of the United States Constitution. The largest growth in Texas between 2010 and 2020 was Hispanics, who added to the population boom in the state. Yet, today’s map all but assures that anyone except a Latino gets a new seat in Congress. Those responsible made sure to pack Latino voters into districts with blacks and dilute us everywhere else in one of the most bizarre examples of gerrymandering we have ever witnessed. Since the 1970s, LULAC has challenged redistricting every ten years in court, and we have always won. If Senators are not going to do the right thing and address this glaring suppressing of our vote, we will go into federal court again to have our voice and our votes respected.”
Linda Chavez – LULAC National Board Member and Vice-President of the Southwest
“To say that the maps published today are shocking is an understatement. Their actions legitimize voter exclusion by distorting and twisting entire areas to suit the outcome they want! I have never seen such a blatant act in all my years of championing civil rights in Texas. These maps clearly show how discrimination targeting Latinos is still alive and well in this state. We have no choice except to challenge this plan as illegal and cannot be allowed to stand. When those who fear Latinos see our growth in sheer numbers, they do the only thing xenophobes can do. They lie, cheat and steal our right to vote and have our votes matter!”
Rodolfo Rosales Jr., - Texas LULAC State Director
“Our community is speechless at the disrespect and outright arrogance by those who would deny us our legal and civil rights. Redistricting is supposed to be an opportunity to re-apportion areas that fairly allow growing communities to have their share of representation. Yet, the process is in the hands of people who see redistricting as another path to disenfranchise and marginalize our community at the very moment when we see exponential voting interest. It is unconscionable to have political leaders say they believe in America’s values, only to turn right around and trample on the most fundamental value of our Republic, the democratic right to vote. Their contradiction is sheer hypocrisy.”
###
About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/