Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Texas NAACP ask court to block Texas’ racially gerrymandered congressional maps

Gary Bledsoe-president of the Texas NAACP

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Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP, spoke at a news conference at the Capitol, May 30, 2021. – File photo courtesy of Texas NAACP

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(Special to The Dallas Examiner) – The Texas NAACP, represented by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, filed a motion Tuesday for a preliminary injunction in their ongoing lawsuit against the state of Texas, challenging its recently passed congressional maps for illegal, racial gerrymandering. The maps bulldoze important majority-minority districts and dilute the ability for Black and Brown communities to pick their political representation fairly.

The Texas NAACP and Lawyers’ Committee originally filed the case in 2021 regarding Texas’ redistricting plan for Congress, as well as the state Senate and House, arguing that multiple districts at all levels – principally in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston areas – intentionally discriminate against people of color.

In July of this year, the Department of Justice sent Gov. Greg Abbott a letter arguing that four Democratic districts – three of them coalition, or synonymously, majority-minority districts – were racially gerrymandered and that the Fifth Circuit had declared coalition districts unconstitutional.

Texas officials acted after receiving direction to redraw congressional maps, following what critics described as a misinterpretation of the law. Abbott responded by adding redistricting to the legislative agenda and asserted that the state no longer required coalition districts.

With passage of the new maps, the Texas Legislature solidified its original gerrymander, according to plaintiffs, moving to dismantle majority Black and Brown communities and diminish their political influence for years to come, particularly in advance of the 2026 midterm elections.

“Racial gerrymandering is not a new tactic in Texas’ playbook. The only difference this time is the racism is partially masquerading as partisanship. These maps take things from bad to worse, amplifying the profound injustice already experienced by Black communities and other communities of color in Texas who are simply seeking a voice and representation in politics and in their own futures,” said Damon T. Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

“The Trump administration told Texas in no uncertain terms to create illegal, discriminatory maps, and Texas actively carried out the mandate. This is an intentionally harmful and discriminatory effort, and we must call it out as such. Black and Brown voters in Texas deserve better. They are legally and constitutionally entitled to fair representation. These maps do the opposite, and they must not stand.”

He said the group is suing for an injunction because the new plan discriminates against minorities.

“The state of Texas is only 40% White, but White voters control over 73% of the state’s congressional seats,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. “It’s quite obvious that Texas’s effort to redistrict mid-decade, before next year’s midterm elections, is racially motivated. The state’s intent here is to reduce the members of Congress who represent Black communities, and that, in and of itself, is unconstitutional.”

Johnson’s remarks echoed a broader sentiment among civil rights leaders who are calling for action.

“We now see just how far extremist leaders are willing to go to push African Americans back toward a time when we were denied full personhood and equal rights,” said NAACP Texas President Gary Bledsoe. “We call on Texans of every background to recognize the dangers of this moment. Our democracy depends on ensuring that every person is counted fully, valued equally, and represented fairly. We are prepared to fight this injustice at every level. Our future depends on it.”

As part of the ongoing case led by a coalition of organizations, including the Texas NAACP and Lawyers’ Committee, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in El Paso held a hearing Wednesday to consider the schedule for litigation concerning Texas’ redistricting efforts.

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