WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down Louisiana’s congressional map and eviscerated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Intersections of Our Lives, a collaborative of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, issued the following statement:
“This Supreme Court decision is a shameful step back for our democracy and the promise that every vote should count equally. The Voting Rights Act is a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement. By gutting one of the last tools to challenge racial discrimination in voting, the Court has paved the way for politicians to redraw districts to silence Black, Latine, and AANHPI communities. The burden of this ruling will fall hardest on voters of color who have spent generations fighting for fair representation.
“For the women and gender-expansive people of color we represent, this ruling strikes at the heart of reproductive justice. When our votes are undermined, we lose ground in the fight for equitable access to health care and the ability to shape the decisions that affect our daily lives. Reproductive justice will only be achieved when all people have the power, agency, and resources to make decisions about our bodies, health, sexuality, and families.
“Black, Latine, and AANHPI communities have always organized in moments like this one. Across race, language, immigration status, and geography, we have mobilized, built power, and made extraordinary sacrifices to demand more from this country — and we will continue to do so. We have never waited for permission to participate in our democracy. As attacks on voting rights escalate, Intersections of Our Lives will continue fighting alongside our communities and allies to protect our votes, defend democracy, and advance reproductive justice for all.”