Montgomery Rally Demands Protection of Black Political Representation After Supreme Court Vote-Rights Rollback

On May 16, 2026, thousands gathered in Selma and at the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery to protest the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision and to demand preservation of Black-majority congressional districts.

The Independent

The 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march helped secure the Voting Rights Act, later narrowed by a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, a 2023 federal court order that redrew Alabama’s 2nd district, and the May 2026 decision that removed the preclearance requirement, allowing states to redraw maps without oversight.

PBS News Hour

Speakers included Sen. Cory Booker, LaTosha Brown, and Rep. Shomari Figures. Booker called Montgomery “sacred soil”; Brown called the ruling an attack on Black political power; Figures said the fight is about voters’ right to elect representatives.

In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation

• 1965: Selma-to-Montgomery march and “How Long, Not Long” speech.

In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation

• 2013: Supreme Court narrows Voting Rights Act.

UsNews and World Report

• 2023: Federal court redraws Alabama’s 2nd district (Black residents 27%).

In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation

• May 2026: Louisiana v. Callais removes preclearance.

The Guardian

• May 16 2026: Rally in Selma and Montgomery.

The Guardian

Black residents comprise about 27 % of Alabama’s 2nd district. The rally attracted “thousands” of participants and spurred over 50 satellite events. If the new map is implemented, Republicans could reclaim the seat, reducing Black electoral influence in Alabama and signaling a broader shift affecting minority representation across the South.

The Guardian

Veterans warned the rapid rollback is “appalling” and “sad,” with Kirk Carrington noting the struggle continues. Plaintiffs Shalela Dowdy urged “we are not going down without a fight,” while 70-year-old Camellia A. Hooks said the redistricting effort feels like a step back. Activists described the maps as echoing Jim Crow tactics.

In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation

The contested congressional map remains under litigation, with final boundaries still pending. Republican House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said the decision offers a chance to revisit a court-imposed map. Organizers plan further rallies, and the Aug 11 special primary will test the new district configuration.

UsNews and World Report

• "if we in our generation do not now do our duty, we will lose the gains and the rights and the liberties that our ancestors afforded us," — Cory Booker, U.S. Senator

PBS News Hour

• "We are not going down without a fight. We are not going down to Jim Crow maps," — Shalela Dowdy, plaintiff in Alabama redistricting case

In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation

• "The bottom line is we are seeing a full-fledged, coordinated attack on Black political power that can actually reshape the entire political landscape, not just on the South but throughout the nation," — LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter

UsNews and World Report

• "We have to accept that this is the new reality, whether we like it or not," — Evan Milligan, lead plaintiff in Alabama redistricting case

PBS News HourThe IndependentUsNews and World ReportIn the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation

Upcoming actions include the Aug 11 special primary, continued legal appeals, and additional rallies nationwide.

The Independent