(MILWAUKEE) Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) issued the following statement on the release of the decision from the Supreme Court of the United States on the Voting Rights Act.

“On the heels of Juneteenth, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered an opinion this morning that reminds African Americans that our fight for equal rights is far from over. In Shelby County v. Holder, the Court struck down Section IV of the Voting Rights Act. This holding is not only disappointing, it is utterly disheartening.”

“The Voting Rights Act has proven to be the most effective tool to ensure universal voting rights exist in areas that were plagued with systemic and intentional discrimination. Today’s ruling guts the Act’s ability to prevent voting discrimination.”

“To paraphrase Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissent: Voting discrimination still exists; no one doubts that. But the [Majority] today terminates the remedy that proved to be best suited to block that discrimination: Section IV of the Voting Rights Act.”

“Today we must see a swift response from Congress, action that recodifies Section IV in a manner consistent with the Court’s opinion. Only congressional action can ensure that our hard earned voting rights are not denied as they were in the days of Selma and Montgomery.”