'John Lewis must be smiling': Alabama’s only Black congressperson lauds SCOTUS ruling
Democratic United States Representative Terri Sewell — Alabama's lone Black congressperson — lauded the Supreme Court's Thursday decision striking down her state's gerrymandered voting map that was drawn by Republicans during an appearance on CNN.
"What does this mean for Alabama and '24, Congresswoman?" anchor Kate Bouldan asked.
"I, I think it means that we'll have a more equitable map. I mean, the reality is that African Americans make up twenty-seven percent of Alabama's population, and yet we only had one seat. And so I think that, I mean, I really, I'm, I'm, I guess I'm reeling from this decision cuz it is such a surprise," Sewell said.
"I was so happy that the justices saw the, the truth in the fact that that represents voter dilution," Sewell continued. "And it's Black voter dilution. And I think this is a huge win, not just for Alabama, since everybody's looking at the Milligan case for map withdrawing in North Carolina and Ohio. I mean, everyone's looking at this decision, and I think that it will have a ripple effect, a positive ripple effect. It means that minority dilution is not, is not going to be tolerated by the Supreme Court or, or by any court in the land. And that is a huge victory."
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Sewell then channeled John Lewis — the late civil rights activist and congressman.
"I, I know that John Lewis must be smiling because we got into some good trouble, some necessary trouble, and at the end of the day, right won out," Sewell added. "And justice, while, while you know the law arc of the universe is long, it definitely does bend towards justice."