Voting rights lawsuit started in Austin garage

[sonias]

AAS 4/26/09
Voting rights lawsuit started in Austin garage
Supreme Court case involves moving utility district polling place 3 blocks.

Anderson Cooper's people recently phoned Jack Stueber about sending a CNN crew to his suburban Austin garage, joining a media pilgrimage to what might be the least likely racial battleground in America.

This Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case from Stueber's neighborhood that could redefine the Voting Rights Act of 1965, landmark legislation that outlawed decades of ballot-box discrimination against minorities.

At stake is Section 5 of the act, which forces places with a history of discrimination, including Texas, to prove to the U.S. Justice Department that any change in voting practices does not harm minority interests.

(snip)
Supporters praise the neighborhood for challenging what they call an outdated response to the nation's bigoted past — particularly now that an African American man occupies the White House.

I love that the VRA challengers use the proof that racism is obviously over since the US elected an African American to the White House.

Not true, because you see all the states that come under Section 5 of the VRA didn't provide any electors that voted for Obama. Maybe when every Section 5 VRA state - Texas, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina actually provide their electoral votes to an African-American, we'll talk. :P

This one makes me very nervous since I don't trust the current SCOTUS to do the right thing. :scared:


Sonia