A Supreme Injustice

The Supreme Court issued its long awaited decision in Shelby County v. Holder was so disappointing and stalk reminder of days long past, which turned back the hands of time. 

In its decision, the Supreme Court effectively invalidated Section 4 of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. As evidence of its negative impact; within hours of the ruling Texas immediately enacted a Voter ID law and rest assured many other states will revert back to their old ways denying millions of minorities, and African Americans in particular, the right to participate in America’s democracy.

I have seen and remember old Jim Crow and I am deeply troubled by the Supreme Court decision striking critical protections within the Voting Rights Act. In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court struck Section 4, a provision which outlines the formula federal officials have used to determine which states must clear new voting laws with the Department of Justice. This decision ignores the persistence of discrimination in voting and weakens a vital tool that has protected the right to vote for all Americans for nearly 50 years.

Most of America knows that it was because of the Voting Rights Act that African American’s were afforded the right to vote; although not a permanent or guaranteed right to vote. Periodically it had to be reauthorized. I was one who thought there would be a president to come along and refuse to sign the reauthorization into law or a Congress such as the one we have today would take away that right. But on June 25, 2013 the Supreme Court of the United States proved me wrong by being the culprits that take affectively took that right away.

Let’s take a historical look at some history. In 1865, it was said that slavery was over meaning blacks were free. In thirty years, the Supreme Court of the 1890s ruled in the Plessy v Ferguson that ushered in government sanctioned segregation that lasted until 1965 when President Johnson signed into law a number of Civil Rights Bills including the Voting Rights Act shortly after Bloody Sunday. That means it took a hundred years for this so-called freedom to have some semblance of reality. In the last election we saw the evil forces at work with tricks and schemes to further the disenfranchise minorities, the poor and elderly their right to vote.

So many African American’s gave their lives and blood to obtain the right to vote. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, "Thanks to the Voting Rights Act, progress once the subject of a dream has been achieved and continues to be made." She went on to say "Hubris is a fit word for today's demolition of the Voting Rights Act.”

I must express my distain for the “Negro” justice on the bench because this guy sided with the majority and it is reported that he said he would like to remove the entire Voting Rights Act. Sir your collusion and opinion is a disgrace and you should be ashamed! Make no mistake what you helped them do, in my view, was done to ensure that there will never be another black president.

For the sake of our children’s future we must take a stand and not let this stand! And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

I have to wonder if Uncle Thomas can remember this horrible event.

An explanation of what happened June 25, 2012