Did you see what the Supreme Court did last night? They allowed Alabama to change the rules of our election at the last minute and use a congressional map that dilutes the voting power of African Americans in our state. Let's be clear. In a state where black voters make up nearly one-third of the electorate, we deserve two seats at the table, not one.

The right-wing justices of the Supreme Court are trying to take us back to the Jim Crow era to a time before black voters could participate fully in our democracy.

Hi again, everybody. It's now 5 o'clock in New York. That was Terry Sewell. She's one of two black members of Alabama's congressional delegation. And the latest moves by the United States Supreme Court may soon make her the only one. Last night, the highest court in the land ruled in favor of a new congressional map for Alabama that's backed by Republicans only in the state.

The new map leaves just one majority black district, making it much easier for the GOP to flip

another congressional seat in its direction. A lower court had blocked that new Republican map

last week, saying there was, quote, undisputed evidence of intentional racial discrimination.

But Alabama Republicans pressed ahead appealing the decision to this Supreme Court in light of the

highest court's recent ruling in a similar case, the Louisiana case, that basically gutted the Voting

Rights Act.

About last night's decision, the New York Times writes this, quote,

The ruling underscores how much more difficult it will be for groups and individuals

to prove that legislative maps discriminate on the basis of race going forward.

Just three years ago, the Supreme Court rejected a map in Alabama with a similar

configuration, including only one majority black district, that it has now accepted.

And Alabama State Representative Anthony Daniels said this, quote, this ruling is a disgraceful

insult to all of the many foot soldiers of the civil rights movement who fought, bled, and died for voting rights and fair black representation.

The three liberal justices on the Supreme Court dissented with the ruling.

Justice Sotomayor wrote a blistering rebuke.

It included this, quote, in addition to being wrong on the merits, the court's decision

inflicts two grave harms on the public. It debases the democratic process by upending Alabama's

entire election in the name of permitting Alabama to discriminate against black Alabamians. It also

corrods the rule of law by rewarding

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