WIGOP Controlled State Senate Approved Their Own SB621 Redistricting Map, Which Failed To Take Into Account The VRA 1965 Mandates And Rejected Governor Tony Evers (D) PMC's Map

The Republican controlled State Senate approved their own version of redistricting map and rejected alternative maps including the controversial Governor Evers (D) People's Maps Commission redistricting map that dilutes City of Milwaukee majority minority districts in both the State Senate and State Assembly.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 9, 2021

Madison, Wisconsin - On Monday, the Republican controlled State Senate majority voted 21-12 to adopt Senate Bill 621/Assembly Bill 624 redistricting map, which the Republicans support in order to keep control of the State legislature by continuing to practice gerrymandering, which prevents Democrats in the state from getting a majority for the next 10 years.

The Republican controlled Senate also rejected alternative redistricting maps from the Dems in the Senate and Governor Tony Evers's People's Maps Commission controversial redistricting map that dilutes (phases out or eliminates) two Latino majority districts and makes them as "Opportunity Minority Districts" in violation and in controrary to the mandates of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), which assures that people of color can elect their choice of representatives where a large concentration of Latino population exists in a particular area (district). It also phases out the State Senate District 3 in the predominantly Latino community in the Southside of Milwaukee. The two Latino majority (8th and 9th) Assembly Districts will then become Opportunity Minority Districts with less than 50% of Latino voting population for the next 10 years.

The PMC map also dilutes 6 Black majority minority Assembly Districts (AD) to two majority Black districts and eliminates two Black majority minority State Senate Districts. The four ADs would become Opportunity Minority Districts with less than 50% of the Black voting population.

All the State Senate Democrats voted against the Republican SB621 redistricting map and 11 State Senate Democrats including State Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milw), an African-American voted for Governor Evers PMC controversial map, eventhough, Johnson's district will be diluted with less then 50% of Black voting population or eliminated, if the PMC map prevails in a court legal challenge, but most likely it will fail for blatantly violating the VRA of 1965. State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw), an African-American from Senate District 4 was the only one who voted no to reject all the redistricting maps presented in the State Senate on Monday.

Two other maps from the Democrats in the state legislature, B3 and E4 were also rejected. The B3 Dems map is considered as the best alternative compared to both the Republican and the PMC maps, according to a credible source in the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

The State Assembly will take up the Republican redistricting map AB624/SB621 and possibly other alternative redistricting maps for debate on Thursday. The Republican map AB624 is expected to be approved as well by the Republican controlled State Assembly and afterwards Governor Evers is expected to veto the Republican redistricting map. A state court challenge will definitely be filed by the either the GOP or Governor Evers and could include legal challenges from the Dems.

State Assembly Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) of  Mexican-Puerto Rican American descent from the 8th Assembly District in the Southside of Milwaukee on Monday called for people of color in both the Latino and Black communities including allies to take action and march in Madison for fair and just representation maps on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at the State Capitol in Madison at 9:00a.m.

Activist & Advocacy Podcast - Episode 5 ft. Lena C. Taylor and Sylvia Ortiz-Velez addressed Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers's PMC's maps that dilute the Latino and Black majority State Assembly Districts https://bit.ly/3odpMC8

Update: 

Press conferences scheduled: 

• 1st Press conference about the Governor Tony Evers PMC redistricting maps that dilutes Latino and Black majority districts in Milwaukee will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Statue located at the 1700 N. MLK Jr. Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Video of Press Conference at link: https://youtu.be/WpdfXQbVudQ)

• 2nd Press conference about the Governor Tony Evers PMC redistricting maps that dilutes Latino and Black majority districts in Milwaukee will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the César E. Chávez Statue located at the 900 S. César E. Chávez Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Video of press conference)

Press conferences hosted by Wisconsin State Representatives Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) and Lakesha Myers (D-Milw), Vaun L. Mayes, State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw), Black Panthers, Brown Berets and allies.