JACL Responds to the Supreme Court’s Decision in Louisiana v. Callais
May 04, 2026
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Matthew Weisbly, Education Programs/Communications Manager, mweisbly@jacl.org
Seia Watanabe, VP of Public Affairs, swatanabe@jacl.org
JACL Policy Team, Matthew Marumoto & Katie Masano Hill
Email: policy@jacl.org
On April 29th, the Supreme Court released its opinion in the case of Louisiana v. Callais, limiting the application of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and striking down a congressional district map that would be used in upcoming Louisiana elections. Section 2 of the VRA prohibits voting laws, practices, and district maps that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or language minority. Under the decision, voters’ power to challenge discriminatory district maps and voting laws is severely weakened, as it allows states to justify discrimination by citing partisan motives. The district map that was struck down created two Black-majority districts out of six in Louisiana, consistent with Black Americans making up a third of the state’s population, and in line with the previous protections of the VRA. We are already seeing in real time how this decision is impacting elections. In response to the decision, the state of Louisiana has suspended its upcoming primary election, where early voting was set to begin this Saturday. Amid the confusion caused by this sudden change, voters have likely already been disenfranchised. When the new maps are released, it is also likely that Black voters in Louisiana will have their voices unfairly silenced by partisan interests.
JACL joins the civil rights community in demanding that Congress pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 14/S. 2523) into law and urging states to enact strong civil rights protections that safeguard the fundamental right to vote and equal representation. We must not let the crown jewel of the Civil Rights Movement be further dismantled and upended. Passing the VRA took the blood, sweat, and tears of our nation’s civil rights leaders and everyday activists. Their legacy and hard work are now under threat. We must fight to ensure that true fairness and equal access are a lived reality for every single American at the ballot box.
Finally, we urge you to take action now. Verify your voter registration status and register to vote if you are not already. Our partners at APIAVote offer resources on how to register to vote, including translated resources. Be sure to gather any required registration documents, locate your polling place, make a plan to vote in this year’s elections, and share these resources with your family, friends, and local community.
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The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.
