NAACP Celebrates Voting Rights Victory in Alabama
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2025
Contact: Chyna Fields, cfields@naacpnet.org
WASHINGTON – The NAACP celebrates a federal court's decision in favor of the Association's Alabama State Conference members and plaintiffs, ruling that the state's congressional map must include two districts where Black voters have the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice for the remainder of the decade.
After a two-year trial, the court has ruled that Alabama's 2023 congressional map not only violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act but was enacted by the Alabama Legislature with racially discriminatory intent.
The NAACP argued that Alabama's congressional map was diluting the voting strength of Black residents by "packing" a large number of Black voters into a single district while fragmenting other communities. In October 2023, the Supreme Court mandated that Alabama draw a new congressional map to include a second district with a Black majority, which resulted in the current map. This court-ordered map was used in the 2024 elections and resulted in Alabama electing two Black representatives to Congress for the first time in history.
NAACP President & CEO, Derrick Johnson, released the following statement celebrating the voting rights victory:
"Our democracy cannot and will not function without the Black vote, and this decision is a victory for Black America and our democracy. For over a century, the Black vote has been relentlessly suppressed, but our voices will not be silenced. Black voters in Alabama have reclaimed their rightful place in the democratic process, regaining the power to shape the future of our nation. The NAACP remains committed to our fight for equity in the voting rights process and the ability of Black Americans to elect leaders who will represent their interests."
"The court's decision underscores a fundamental truth: voting rights legislation is a vital guardrail against racial discrimination in our electoral systems," added Bernard Simelton, President of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. "This ruling is not just a legal victory, it's a message to states across the nation that the NAACP will fight against gerrymandering and voter suppression. We will continue to ensure that all Black voters have an equal voice in our democracy — because representation is power, and democracy cannot exist without it."
For more information on the NAACP's work to protect voting rights for Black America, visit our website.
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About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.