COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that alleges state lawmakers racially gerrymandered the state's First Congressional District.
Jim Felder has dedicated most of his life to advocating for equal rights, voting rights, and voter education. In light of the recent redistricting case presented before the U.S. Supreme Court, Felder noted that it felt like a journey back in time.
"We've gone full circle, right back to where we were," he said. "It's not just about equal representation, but we're talking about having my vote counted as I want it to be counted," Felder emphasized.
At the heart of the matter is the allegation that lawmakers intentionally relocated black voters from the First Congressional District into the Sixth Congressional District.
Republican lawmakers, however, assert that they employed political party affiliations, not race when redrawing the district lines.
Felder said that in South Carolina, race and politics are intricately linked.
“That’s why we’ve stayed with the democratic party because of how hard we had to fight, the price that was paid by those persons who filed those Lawsuits and lost everything they had,” said Felder. "By keeping x number of African Americans in each district, when you take them out of the district, it lessens the impact and lessens the voice, therefore you get what you get.”
Felder's personal history is a testament to the progress made in the realm of voting rights. He highlighted, "We only had 8 black elected officials in all of SC. Four of them were down in Eastover, four were down in Beaufort on St. Helena Island; that’s all we had in 1967. Today there are 900 elected officials in the state."
He added that in 1967 there were only 50,000 registered black voters in the entire state. Today there are around 1 million.
The outcome of the Supreme Court's decision in this case could have far-reaching consequences, potentially affecting the balance of power in Washington.
"We don't want to go backward. We've come this far, so we need to battle and continue the struggle,” said Felder.
The Supreme Court is anticipated to deliver a ruling on this case by early 2024.
In a statement to News 19, Senate President Thomas Alexander said:
“I was pleased with the presentation made by senate attorneys today before the United States Supreme Court. Their arguments were well-reasoned and clearly demonstrated why the district court’s order should be overturned. I firmly believe the congressional plan enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly complies with the Constitution.”
The Supreme Court is set to return on October 30th.