The Legislative Black Caucus and three civil rights organizations Friday called on the U.S. Justice Department to reject the House redistricting plan drawn at a recent special session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Joining the caucus in signing a letter opposing the plan were the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Urban League and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
The proposal increases the number of House minority districts from 27 to 29, but most caucus members say a 30th district -- and possibly more -- could have been created.
"We believe the (redistricting) process was conducted in a manner that diminished minority voters' ability to select a candidate of their choice," said Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, the chairwoman of the caucus. "We were disheartened ... that Gov. Bobby Jindal and members of the Legislature decided that partisanship and incumbent protection were more important than complying with the (federal) Voting Rights Act of 1965."
The objection by the groups focuses mainly on the possible creation of an African-American district in the Shreveport area.
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