Federal Appeals Court Rules Ferguson School District Violated Voting Rights Act
ST. LOUIS 鈥� A federal appeals court today ruled that the at-large electoral process used by Missouri鈥檚 Ferguson-Florissant School District violates the Voting Rights Act. The 老澳门开奖结果 brought the lawsuit on behalf of the Missouri NAACP and several African American parents and residents.
鈥淭he courts have ruled yet again that the Ferguson-Florissant school district鈥檚 election system illegally dilutes African American voting power,鈥� said Julie Ebenstein, senior staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Voting Rights Project. 鈥淭he decision takes another step toward dismantling systematic bias in local elections, and ensuring that all communities鈥� interests are equally represented.鈥�
In its ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found the 鈥渆vidence amply supports鈥� the district court鈥檚 conclusion that 鈥済iven the extent to which African Americans in FFSD continue to experience the effect of discrimination, their ability to participate in the political process is impacted.鈥�
The Ferguson-Florissant area has a long history of racial discrimination. The school district itself was created by a 1975 federal desegregation order intended to remedy the effects of discrimination against African American students.
鈥淲e presented strong evidence that the election scheme operates to dilute the votes of black voters and today鈥檚 ruling vindicates the district court鈥檚 careful factual analysis based on complex evidence,鈥� said Tony Rothert, legal director of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Missouri. 鈥淲e must remain vigilant about the voting rights of the people and continue removing artificial barriers that prevent communities of color from having the same opportunity as white voters to elect candidates that will be responsive to them.鈥�
The lawsuit is Missouri NAACP v. Ferguson-Florissant School District.
The decision is at: /legal-document/missouri-naacp-v-ferguson-florissant-school-district-appeals-court-ruling
More information is at:
/cases/voting-rights-trial-ferguson
Voting Rights
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