(AURN News) — Aug. 6 marks the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the landmark 1965 law that outlawed many discriminatory practices used to prevent Black Americans from voting.
Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson months after the Bloody Sunday march in Selma, Alabama, the law transformed American democracy by dramatically increasing Black voter registration and political representation across the South.
Six decades later, voting rights advocates say the battle is far from over, pointing to Supreme Court decisions including Shelby County v. Holder, Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee and this year’s Louisiana v. Callais ruling as significantly weakening federal protections against voting discrimination.
Civil rights groups also point to new redistricting battles and changes to voting laws in several states as ongoing challenges.
At the same time, advocates point to signs of resilience.
Election advocates report increased Black voter participation in several Southern primaries, suggesting that many voters are responding to those challenges by becoming more engaged.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
