(AURN News) — Tennessee Republicans are moving forward with a redistricting plan that critics say could eliminate the state’s only majority-Black congressional district as a special legislative session begins.
“We’re trying to get as many folks to sign the petition and raise awareness about the racist attack on our district trying to take away the only majority-Black district in the entire state of Tennessee. House Republicans, senators, the governor and the president of the United States are trying to take our district away, and we need your support,” said state Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis.
Pearson is walking nine miles through Memphis on Monday to protest Republican efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map.
Gov. Bill Lee, R-Tenn., is calling a special legislative session Tuesday that could eliminate the state’s only majority-Black district and Democratic-held seat, the 9th Congressional District.
Pearson, who is challenging Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., in the Democratic primary, is among activists mobilized by a coalition called Defend District 9.
If Republicans split the Memphis district into multiple Republican-leaning areas, Tennessee’s entire nine-member congressional delegation would be Republican.
The push follows a Supreme Court decision that critics say weakens voting rights protections.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
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