Louisiana Finally Adopted Second Black Congressional District

Jeff Thomas Think504.com With a gun to their heads, the Louisiana Legislature finally redrew the state’s Congressional map. African Americans comprise over 33% of the population. Now Louisiana finally has a second Black Congressional District. Only after a federal judge promised to draw the district, did the legislature finally come up with a new district. The newly elected and super conservative governor Jeff Landry’s first order of business was to create the new “Black” District. 2nd Black District You might remember the legislature held a statewide listening tour to see what the citizens thought about forming a new district. Led by then Senator Sharon Hewitt, the committee decided the discriminatory old map with only one Majority Black District was in the senator’s words a “good and right thing”. The super majority Republican Legislature backed the only one “Black” District Plan. In the face of judicial scrutiny, the legislature played the old delay and deny game. Ultimately, they could never agree on anything other than one majority minority district. But Federal Judge Shelley Dick threatened to draw the new map herself. Then in stepped new Governor Jeff Landry. He had a political axe to grind. And he had no control over...