News
Sharpton To Hold A 9AM Press Conference Saturday To Announce Plans To Challenge The Lines In Court & Plans To Hold A Summit Of Black Leaders To Fight The Lines
—REVEREND AL SHARPTON TO ATTACK THE PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES SUBMITTED BY THE NEW YORK ASSEMBLY AND SENATE CALLING IT A SETBACK IN CIVIL RIGHTS—
SHARPTON TO HOLD A 9A.M. PRESS CONFERENCE SATURDAY TO ANNOUNCE PLANS TO CHALLENGE THE LINES IN COURT & PLANS TO HOLD A SUMMIT OF BLACK LEADERS TO FIGHT THE LINES
WHO:
Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
WHAT:
Press Conference at National Action Network headquarters
WHERE:
106 West 145th Street @ Lenox
WHEN:
Saturday, March 2, 2012 – 9:00 a.m.
BACKGROUND:
On the eve of embarking to Selma, Alabama to commemorate the major civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery 50 years ago, Rev. Al Sharpton stated that New York’s proposed Congressional lines by the state legislature represents a “blow to civil rights and voting rights for African Americans and Latinos in New York.”
“The proposed lines will actually reduce African American representation in Congress, weaken existing Latino congressional representation, carve up and dilute the voting strength of African American communities in the Bronx so they are split among four members of Congress, and refuse to create a new Latino seat to reflect their growth in New York City. Latinos make up 30% of the City’s population but have only two representatives in Congress. I thought the Voting Rights Act that was birthed from the pain and suffering that took place in Selma and Monytgomery 50 years ago was about voter protection, not incumbent protection.” Reverend Sharpton said he was “deeply disappointed” in the legislative leadership that drew the lines and stated he would call national attention to New York’s apparent failure on redistricting in an effort to resolve this issue.