NC redistricting hearing speakers criticize GOP proposals
This week, North Carolina Republican lawmakers began posting draft versions of new congressional maps online, with several of the maps visibly indicating that GOP leaders are yet again drawing districts that give their party an advantage in future elections.
Local community members, activists and Democrats called out the GOP’s efforts during redistricting public hearings on Monday and Tuesday — prompting proposals for Republicans to shelve the congressional maps.
- “This is not fair, since North Carolina is a half-and-half state with the two parties,” stated a Guilford County resident at the Legislative Building. “The maps proposed by Republican members dilute Democratic votes and deprive communities of effective representation”.
- NC Republicans have a long history of drawing intentionally discriminatory maps and instead of righting the wrongs of their past, GOP lawmakers are once again doubling down with their proposed gerrymandered maps.
- NC Republicans are also mirroring tactics from other GOP legislations across the country — using terms like “race blind,” to excuse their blatantly discriminatory maps and render communities of color invisible in our state.
Republican leaders hinted at producing a transparent and fair redistricting process, but so far, it has been anything but that.
A rushed process riddled with inadequate time for citizen participation on maps, lack of translation services and limits on the number of North Carolinians that are able to provide public comments during hearings — out of millions of residents — clearly tells us Republican leaders intentions. Ensuring political advantage for their own at the expense of our voices and fair representation
Let Republican leaders know that you and your community will not settle for less when it comes to your representation by submitting a virtual public comment at demnc.co/mapportal
