AMERICA WON’T ACCEPT JIM CROW. NEITHER CAN CONGRESS
QUICK READ: Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the 6 racist, anti-democracy, ultra-conservatives in the SCOTUS majority regularly misconstrue both the Constitution and Congressional intent, Supreme Court reform must be part of democracy reform—which needs to begin immediately.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Last week, 6 unelected, racist, anti-democratic judges, in a mind-boggling piece of judicial overreach that ignored America’s growing racial disparity in voter turnout, ruled in Louisiana v. Callais that the Voting Rights Act (VRA) provision used to challenge rigged racist voting maps was unconstitutional--marking the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, and dragging America back to the Jim Crow era by informing states, primarily in the South, they could legally gerrymander Black and Brown majority districts out of existence and write their voters out of government.
Callais immediately triggered an onrush of Jim Crowism across southern states—belying the majority’s lies and causing Democrats to try eliminating Republican districts in their states. Making matters worse, Trump plans to weaponize the VRA to abolish Northern minority voting districts.
Because Callais isn’t the first time this ultra-conservative supermajority has served its wealthy doners by misconstruing the Constitution and its Amendments to reject laws passed by Congress, Supreme Court reform must be part of democracy reform:
Expanding SCOTUS
Controlling its docket, budget, ethics, and jurisdiction
Requiring 2/3 concurrence to invalidate federal law
Reaffirming Congress’ interpretation of the Reconstruction amendments by statute
Establishing enforceable redistricting criteria (Freedom to Vote Act) or state-redistricting commissions (Redistricting Reform Act [S.2885/H.R.5449])
Updating preclearance: John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S.4/HR.14]
Enacting proportional reputation which better protects voters of color and everyone else
(Fair Representation Act [HR.4632])
While nothing can pass without a Democratic Trifecta, introducing them now, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them during the primaries will demonstrate Democrats’ commitment to our multi-racial, gender-inclusive, one-person-one-vote democracy.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries. Protecting our democracy cannot be considered partisan.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries. Protecting our democracy cannot be considered partisan.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Oregon City office: 503-387-8651 |DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Last week’s Callais decision marks the end of America’s experiment with multiracial democracy, dragging the U.S. back to the Jim Crow era. Because the SCOTUS supermajority regularly misconstrues both the Constitution and Congressional intent, meaningful Supreme Court reform must be part of the democracy solution—which needs to begin immediately. Please use your bully pulpit to decry the lies and misrepresentations being pushed in Callais and the dire consequences it poses for our multi-racial democracy. At the same time, you must begin pushing necessary reforms in Congress, forcing on-the-record votes, and discussing them with your constituents during the upcoming primaries.
FURTHER READING
Who will Stand Up to the Supreme Court Justices?
How Congress Used to Leverage the Court
Timeline of the Struggle Over the Voting Rights Act
Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008-2022
Southern Republicans race to subjugate Black voters
The Supreme Court’s Racist Rerun
The Court Just Tried to Erase a Generation of Latino Leadership. Here’s What Comes Next
Sam Alito and My Friend Mickey
The best response to the Supreme Court’s Callais ruling: proportional representation
Scholars Ask Congress to Scrap Winner-Take-All Political system
