By: Blackmansstreet Today

The NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, alongside the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, filed a lawsuit against the State of Missouri to stop an unlawful attempt to convene a special legislative session aimed at redrawing political maps in ways that would diminish the voting power of Black state residents. 

The NAACP has already sued Texas over its new unconstitutional map. NAACP charged that Texas would eliminate five Democratic congressional seats. The NAACP filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, arguing the new congressional map “was enacted with an impermissible and controlling discriminatory purpose based on race.” It names Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson as plaintiffs.

The NAACP’s lawsuit is one of the first lawsuits against the new congressional map. Plaintiffs in other ongoing lawsuits against Texas congressional maps have also filed supplemental filings that argue the new maps are discriminatory as well, according to the Texas Tribune.

In the case of Missouri, “This case is about defending democracy and protecting the voice of every voter,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. “The Missouri legislature’s attempt to force a rushed, unconstitutional redistricting process in a special session is a blatant effort to silence Black voters and strip them of their fundamental rights. We will not stand by while elected officials manipulate the system to weaken our power and representation.”

The NAACP’s filing requests immediate judicial intervention to block the governor and legislative leaders from moving forward with the proposed special session. The lawsuit underscores that such actions violate both the Missouri Constitution and the principles of fair representation guaranteed to all citizens.

“Our communities already face systemic barriers to full participation in our democracy,” said Nimrod T. Chapel Jr., President of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP. “This attempt to redraw maps behind closed doors and outside of regular order is nothing more than an attack on Black Missourians’ ability to choose leaders who reflect and respect their needs. We will use every tool at our disposal to stop it.”

“The NAACP remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring equal representation and safeguarding the rights of Black voters nationwide. We fight to ensure that democracy works for all.”