Good morning. I am so excited. I think all of you know that as the representative from alabamas district, theres no more seminole issue than Voting Rights. Voting rights is basically the foundation for every other right that we seek to have. So im so excited today and so excited that you all came out so early. So, i first want to welcome you as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus foundation. The board of directors. I want to thank you for participating and coming to the annual legislative conference. I think you all know that our theme this year is securing our democracy, protecting our freedom and uplifting our culture. And i do believe that were living in a time when its important that we do all three. We see our democracy under threat, we see basic freedoms like Voting Rights and reproductive rights and other things rolling back. And we also see efforts to erase our culture, which is why we must uplift it all the type. Were excited about our annual legislative conference and it is the 52nd year that weve put this on. The foundation is proud to say that were the biggest convener of Black Thought leaders and experts to talk about the black american agenda. Im congresswoman sewell. I think i said that before. But im congresswoman sewell. [applause] ms. Sewell i proudly represent alabamas seventh district. [applause] the seventh district is here in full force and effect. The historic cities of montgomery, birmingham, any selma folks out there . Marion, black belt. Thank you. We are very proud of the legacy, the very strong and uplifting legacy that is alabamas seventh Congressional District. Its a legacy of ordinary americans daring, having the audacity to make this nation live up to its highest ideals of justice and equality for all. Generations of americans, many in my hometown of selma, marched, fought and even died for the equal right of all americans to vote. It was their sacrifice that gave us the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights act of 1965. But today we know that old battles have become new again and our progress is under attack. Across the nation, extremists are working to restrict voting access, undermine our democracy, and dilute the power of the africanamerican and minority voters. Nowhere is that battle more evident than in my home state of alabama. In june black voters in alabama won a historic victory when the Supreme Court struck down our congressional map and ordered the state to create at least two majorityminority districts or something quite close to it. [applause] we know our state legislature had a little bit of time doing this. After all, africanamericans make up 27 of the voting age population in alabama. And yet the only we only have one majorityminority seat. I think you guys can do the math. If there are Seven Members of congress that represent the state of alabama, were 27 of the black voting age population, we should have 10 seats and were about to get that. Im so excited. Im very excited. The Supreme Courts decision in the case will have farreaching implications beyond just alabama. Indeed, issuing its decision, the court said loudly and clearly that the Voting Rights act of 1965 is not only alive, but its enforceable. Yay however, while we were thrilled that the court upheld section 2, without the full protections of the Voting Rights act at section 4 and 5, states remain free to pass discriminatory laws to restrict voter access. On tuesday i was proud to lead every House Democrat who signed on by introducing once again the John Robert LewisVoting Rights advancement act. [cheers and applause] into the 118th congress. Our bill will fully restore the Voting Rights act and ensure that every american, every eligible american, can make their voice heard at the ballot box. We urge our colleagues to give it their full support and to have all 224 democrats sign on to the bill is a big feat. Were so excited about that. Were introducing it on the senate side by senator warnock and were excited about that. Above all, the battle over redistricting is about fairness. Fairness. Were not asking for equal representation, were asking for fair representation. [applause] its about ensuring that every voter, regardless of their race or zip code, has the opportunity to make their voices heard. Its that that im so proud of in convening todays brain trust, the Voting Rights brain trust entitled, old battles, new lines, restricting and the fight redistricting and the fight for fair representation for black americans. So we are excited about our title because our title i think says it all. We are old battles have become new again and we are in the fight of our life when it comes to redistricting. Voter redistricting. And fighting for fair representation all across the United States. For our first panel, we are thrilled to be joined by two of our nations premier Voting Rights lawyers who actually argued before the Supreme Court the milligan case. Im so excited about this first panel. We will explore the impact of the milligan decision and the promise of fair representation for black and minority voters across the nation. For our second panel, which will be moderated by the one and only seimone sanders townsend, and we will hear from leading Voting Rights and Civil Rights Activists on how we can combat Voter Suppression and mobilize voter turnout for the 2024 election. Please give a big round of applause for the amazing guests that are all here. [applause] but before we begin, we will hear a very special video greeting from a man who needs no introduction, who has been leading the charge for fair representation as the chairman of the National Democratic redistricting committee, none other than the 82nd attorney general of the United States, eric holder. [applause] good morning, everyone. Its great to join with all of you today. You know, i wish i could be with you in person for this years Voting Rights brain trust session. The Congressional Black Caucus foundation is really doing critical work, really critical work on behalf of the National Democratic redistricting committee. And i want to say that we are honored to be standing beside all of you in this fight for fair maps. Now, lets start by celebrating our monumental victory in allen v. Milligan, when the United StatesSupreme Court reaffirmed the strength of section 2 of the Voting Rights act and struck down alabamas congressional map. The National Democratic redistricting committees 501c3 affiliate which is the National Redistricting foundation, filed the first challenge against alabamas congressional map. We were joined in standing up against what was a textbook violation of section 2 by allies in the state and across the country, including the c. B. C. And i need to pause here to recognize my good friend, and a really strong voice for the people of alabama, congresswoman terri sewell. Shes been spectacular, spectacular in this effort. Although this victory was significant, it doesnt mark the end of the fight, but rather it marks a new chapter. Because even after losing before this Supreme Court, before this conservative Supreme Court, republicans in alabama are doing everything that they can to avoid creating a map with two opportunity districts for black voters. Now, asked if it was ok for alabama to disobey, to disobey federal court orders, one alabama congressman responded with three simple, unequivocal words. Quote, by all means. By all means. Now, you dont have to look too hard to see the shameful similarities between george walz refuse wallace refusing 60 years ago to admit my late sisterinlaw to the university of alabama in the wake of the brown v. Board of education decision and todays refuse albie the state of alabama to grant all citizens basic Voting Rights and equal representation. Despite these challenges, im confident that at the end of the day, alabamans will soon see a fair map. And alabama is just a preview, its just a preview of whats to come. As a result of this landmark decision, many of our ongoing lawsuits, including all of our section 2 challenges, are moving forward with renewed momentum. In october, the court will hear our challenge against louisianas map, which could lead to the creation of a second black opportunity district there. And keep in mind, black louisiana voters make up nearly 1 3 of the states population. And basic fairness demands they have the power to influence the outcome in two of the six districts. 1 3. In georgia, trials concluded last week before a Federal District court in cases challenging both the congressional as well as the state legislative maps in our newly strengthened case and our newly strengthened case is moving forward in texas as well. In florida, a trial court recently struck down ron desantis really disgraceful, i really mean disgraceful, discriminatory congressional map that targeted black voters in north florida with precision. With this important victory, he went on record admitting that the map diminishes the voting power of black voters. We are hopeful floridas fifth Congressional District will be restored in a manner that gives black voters the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. So, look, as you can see, we have real momentum in the fight for fair maps. It can be difficult to keep going when theres no end in sight. In these moments, i like to remind myself of dr. Kings quote, that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Theres one thing i would add to that. That arc only bends toward justice when caring, committed people put their hands on it and pull it with all their might towards justice. And thats what we have to do. So i want to thank all of you for helping to pull that arc toward justice, alongside with me. All of you are critical partners in this effort and i look forward to continuing this work to achieve a truly Representative Democracy in this country. Thank you again for having me here today and thank you to the c. B. C. For your continued commitment to protecting and to strengthening this democracy that we all cherish. [applause] ms. Sewell yay. Without further ado, im going to kick off our first panel. Please join me in welcoming to the stage the two lawyers who argued in the milligan case, a partner at the allies law group, please come join us. [applause] and the Deputy Director of litigation for the naacp lead defense fund. [applause] i get to moderate this one. I know youve been living and breathing the milligan case and you both did such a spectacular job before the Supreme Court in arguing those cases. They deserve a round of applause. They were a great team. And can you explain a little bit background to the cases that you each represent and what your strategy was when you first got the case and what your thoughts are . Sure. So, this is a really straightforward voting right its act case. The Voting Rights act, as many of you know, is designed to protect the rights of africanamerican voters to elect candidates of their choice. In alabama you had a state that for decades had denied black voters representation in more than two Congressional Districts and had done so, my clients, including Evan Milligan who is here today, allege intentionally so. And so we went before a threejudge court which had the opportunity to hear the evidence and found overwhelmingly as later affirmed by the Supreme Court that black voters, particularly those in the black belt, i know there are some black belt voters here today, deserve representation in congress. Just like everyone else in this country. Abha yeah, thats the same idea here. We brought this litigation against the congressional map. Speaking what have black voters in alabama have been entitled to for a very long time, which is an additional minority opportunity district. And as a. G. Holder mentioned, we brought we also filed lawsuits in georgia and louisiana and florida and this kind of tidal wave of black Voter Suppression when it comes to redistricting that we have seen this cycle and certainly not the first time this cycle. Ms. Sewell i can tell you that all of us in the Voting Rights world were very happy. You guys did a great job at oral arguments, but we were worried that the Supreme Court wasnt going to do what we knew it needed to do and should do. And that is enforce section 2 of the Voting Rights act. Can you talk about what section means for minority voters . Abha the section 5 protections, that preclearance provision has fallen away. So section 2 remains really the only protection, exactly, the only tool for minority voters, particularly black voters in the south, to assert their right to equal opportunity. And equal access to the political process. There was a lot of fear that the Supreme Court was going to slide back what has really been a given for nearly 40 years. And almost an uncontroversial given. For 40 years. Which is that these protections remain in place, the Legal Standard has been affirmed by the Supreme Court on new numeros occasions, by congress. I mean, constitutional unanimity about what this provision means. And a real fear that maybe the Supreme Court was going to do some damage to it and i think a lot of relief that the Supreme Court upheld what weve all been relying on, what black voters in the south in particular need and have every reason to rely upon for nearly four decades. Terri great. We know that the shelby v. Holder decision, eric holder hates to have that word holder with it, so the shelby decision really gutted the preclearance provisions by finding unconstitutional congress framework for determining which states are the most egregious actors. Can you tell us what the impact of having the milligan case, i think its befitting that alabama brought us the Voting Rights act, but alabama also brought us the shelby decision and now alabamas bringing us the milligan decision and that decision, if reverberated around the nation, will actually add more seats that are held by minority voters, at least those that they choose. Yes. [applause] deuel yeah. I think its really important to emphasize for, first, the history of alabama specifically, that alabama obviously is where the selma to montgomery march happened. Its where bloody sunday happened. Its also where the first sort of weakening the Voting Rights act in 1908 happened and congress robustly responded two years later to enact an amended version of the Voting Rights act that prohibits not just things that have a discriminatory intent, someone intentionally discriminatory, but also prohibits things that have discriminatory results. Thats what were talking about whether were talking about the importance of the Voting Rights act. Congress in the 10 years since Shelby County hasnt had the opportunity to respond robustly in the same way they did in the past. Terri were trying. With the John Robert LewisVoting Rights investment act. Deuel theyre very much trying and appreciate the work of representative sewell and others who are pushing. But i think that thats really sort of indicative of the unfortunate situation were in in which the Voting Rights act has always been the crown jewel of civil rights law. Its not just about protecting particular party, its about protecting voters in cities, in school boards, in county council races. And so its also bringing litigation all over the country, were bringing litigation not just challenging congressional maps but also challenging state legislative maps in places like alabama and louisiana. And were also challenging city school boards. Were also challenging City Councils in places like alabama to bring the representation terri and county commissions. We have one in jefferson county. Deuel and so i say all that to say that it sometimes tkpwetsd lost when were talking about the Voting Rights act, the implications of it, but whats really important is that this has always been a bipartisan bill. Its always been an act that is protected has protected democrats and republicans and i think its really important that we continue to remember that when we think about the history of the Voting Rights act and