Royce Duplessis

We cannot be discouraged in this moment.

SB 121 is a direct attack on our democracy and an attempt to weaken voices that fought too hard to be heard.

But we have overcome worse. Our ancestors endured slavery, Jim Crow, violence, and voter suppression. They organized, they fought, and they won.

The struggle continues. So do we.

As the House debates final passage of SB 121, I urge my colleagues not to hide behind the Callais decision. Let’s call this what it is: a deliberate and politically motivated effort, carried out at the direction of Donald Trump, to weaken fair representation and diminish the political voice of Black communities and Democrats in Louisiana.

They may win this vote today. But history has shown, time and time again, that those who fight to silence people and dilute their representation never win in the end.

This is about more than just maps. It’s about control of economic centers and control of our democracy. This is about the ability for everyone to be able to participate in the voting process to ensure policies that will help or harm their families.