Story perspectives

Thousands Rally in Montgomery Against Supreme Court Alabama Map

5/17/2026

Center

Organizers Rally

Organizers presented the May 16 rally as a civil-rights continuation opposing the Supreme Court’s new Alabama map decision.
Thousands gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court-enabled redistricting of the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures said the dispute concerns representation opportunities, not his seat.
The ruling overturns the 2023 Black-majority order, leading Alabama to hold Aug. 11 primaries under map.

Left

Activists March

Activists launched a new voting-rights era by marching from the Alabama Capitol across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Thousands gathered in Montgomery on May 16 to protest the Supreme Court-backed Republican redistricting maps.
Senators Cory Booker, Raphael Warnock and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged voters to resist the maps.
Plaintiff Evan Milligan mourned the Voting Rights Act’s erosion and urged commitment to the fight.

History

Historical Context

The 1960 Supreme Court decision in Gomillion v. Lightfoot invalidated Tuskegee’s racially drawn limits, restoring voting for about 2,000 Black residents; Judge Johnson reversed the gerrymander in 1961. Mobile v. Bolden (1980) later required proof of intent, and 1965 Voting Rights Act was weakened by Shelby County v. Holder (2013). On May 16, Rep. Shomari Figures and Sen. Cory Booker rallied in Montgomery against Alabama map.

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Organizers Rally

Organizers presented the May 16 rally as a civil-rights continuation opposing the Supreme Court’s new Alabama map decision.
Thousands gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court-enabled redistricting of the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures said the dispute concerns representation opportunities, not his seat.
The ruling overturns the 2023 Black-majority order, leading Alabama to hold Aug. 11 primaries under map.

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