Terri Sewell issues statement on blocking of "discriminatory" congressional map

Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) has released a statement following a decision by a federal court to block the proposed redrawing of a congressional map in Alabama. 

Sewell called the redrawing "discriminatory" as it would take away Democratic seats in Alabama's heavily Republican congressional district map. 

The federal three-judge panel also called the move discriminatory, leading to their decision. 

See below for Sewell's statement: 

“This decision is a victory for fair representation and a powerful rebuke of Alabama’s continued efforts to silence Black voters. Once again, a federal court confirmed what we have said all along: Alabama’s 2023 congressional map was intentionally designed to discriminate against Black voters and dilute our political power.

"When Alabama Republicans passed the 2023 congressional map, they defied federal court orders, the Constitution, and the Voting Rights Act in a desperate attempt to preserve their grip on power. Rather than drawing a fair map, they obstructed, delayed, and intentionally discriminated against Black voters. Today, the court made clear that those tactics will not stand.

"I applaud the three-judge panel for upholding the rule of law and reaffirming that racial discrimination has no place in our redistricting process. While we know that this legal battle is far from over, today’s ruling sends a clear message: Black voters in Alabama cannot and will not be silenced.”