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Sarbanes Statement on the Supreme Court's Decision to Strike Down Measures that Prevent Racial Discrimination

Statement

Date: June 25, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Elections

U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, which ensures critical protections for racial minorities:

"Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act to put an end to the despicable discrimination leveled against racial minorities and to remove unfair impediments they have faced in making their voices heard at the ballot box -- an inalienable right of citizens of this country. As recently as 2006, Congress reauthorized the Voting Rights Act, affirming these protections as necessary and current by large bipartisan majorities."

"The Court's decision is judicial activism at its worst. As Justice Ginsberg states in her dissenting opinion, "the Court errs egregiously by overriding Congress' decision.'"


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