Key facts
- Hundreds rallied against Republican redistricting efforts in Mississippi on Thursday.
- Governor Tate Reeves canceled a special session but expects lawmakers to redraw congressional lines before 2027.
- The state's joint redistricting committee held hearings, with the last one in Jackson on Thursday.
- Speakers invoked the history of voting rights struggles in Mississippi, from the 1890 constitution to the Civil Rights Movement.
- State auditor Shad White criticized Congressman Bennie Thompson during his testimony.
- Lawmakers are expected to target Thompson's seat before his 2028 re-election.
Hundreds of people gathered in Jackson, Mississippi, on Thursday evening to protest Republican-led efforts to redraw congressional maps, invoking the state's history of voting rights struggles. Governor Tate Reeves had previously canceled a special legislative session called to address redistricting but stated that lawmakers would redraw the lines before the 2027 elections.
The rally took place across from the Mississippi state capitol building, shortly after the US Supreme Court's decision weakened the Voting Rights Act. Speakers at the rally, including Safia Malin, policy director at One Voice, drew parallels to the civil rights movement, urging attendees to continue the fight for voting rights.
The state's joint redistricting committee, composed primarily of white men, held a series of hearings across Mississippi, with the final one occurring in Jackson. Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, were present to observe and encourage testimony, viewing it as potentially crucial evidence.
During the hearing, state auditor Shad White, who is considering a gubernatorial run, drew boos from the audience when he criticized Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson, Mississippi's only Democratic representative, and his district. White suggested a "silent majority" desired better representation for the Mississippi Delta.
Several attendees shared personal histories related to voting rights. Jesse Otto Smith, 76, spoke about his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather being unable to vote. Walter Boone referred to the current redistricting efforts as "Mississippi plan 2.0," referencing the state's 1890 constitution that disenfranchised Black voters.
Lauren Wilson, a student at Tougaloo College, spoke in opposition to the redistricting, emphasizing that "the people hold the power." The full legislature is expected to convene later this year to redraw state legislative maps, with lawmakers anticipated to focus on Thompson's seat before his 2028 re-election.