Obama re: Supreme Court Ruling on Voting Rights

[Jrose]

[Reported by Lauren Gambino, The Guardian 15.13 EDT]

'Obama says supreme court ruling frees states to 'systematically weaken voting power of racial minorities'
Former president Barack Obama has issued this statement in reaction to the supreme court’s landmark decision today to “effectively gut a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act”.

'He said the ruling frees “state legislatures to gerrymander legislative districts to systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities - so long as they do it under the guise of ‘partisanship’ rather than explicit ‘racial bias’”.

'And it serves as just one more example of how a majority of the current Court seems intent on abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy and protecting the rights of minority groups against majority overreach.

'The good news is that such setbacks can be overcome. But that will only happen if citizens across the country who cherish our democratic ideals continue to mobilize and vote in record numbers - not just in the upcoming midterms or in high profile races, but in every election and every level.'