Statement on Louisiana v. Callais & the Ongoing Struggle for Voting Rights
The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais is a profound moral wound, not only to the people of Louisiana, but to the promise of a multiracial democracy. This decision invalidates Louisiana’s second Congressional district and paves the way for states to dismantle Black and Latino voting districts across the country. As Unitarian Universalists, we cannot remain silent.
Louisiana v. Callais tells Black voters in Louisiana, and voters of color across the country, that the law will no longer protect their voice or their vote. Yet across race, background, and belief, most Americans share a fundamental conviction: that the people choose their leaders — not courts captured by the wealthy, and not a political movement that uses violence and hate to oppose the will of the people. In our faith, we understand this not only as a democratic principle but as a moral truth: that power rooted in collective dignity, solidarity, and love will ultimately outlast the forces that seek to divide and diminish it.
It was the moral courage of ordinary people who united on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, who filled the jails of Birmingham, attended organizing meetings, joined Freedom Schools, boycotts, and sang songs that propel our movements to this day. And in 1965, they won the Voting Rights Act, one of the most important legislative achievements of the Civil Rights movement. It declares that race must never be used to silence or diminish the political power of any community.
That principle has been under attack for decades. In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, eliminating the preclearance requirement that had required states with a history of discrimination to seek federal approval before changing voting laws. Now, in Louisiana v. Callais, Justice Kagan's dissent clearly states that Section 2 of the Voting Rights act has been rendered “all but a dead letter”.
This decision is an affront to the principle of democracy and a moral injury to Unitarian Universalists, and all people of faith and conscience who believe love demands that every voice be counted and every person protected. UUs believe that the right to vote is sacred, and to deny that right is to deny one's inherent worthiness and dignity.
The Roberts Court has made a pattern of stripping rights from the many to serve the few. When this Court struck down Roe v. Wade, millions lost access to reproductive care — with the greatest harm falling on those with the least resources to access it elsewhere. When it gutted the EPA's authority to regulate carbon emissions, fossil fuel corporations were shielded from accountability while frontline communities bore the cost. And this same Court is now weighing whether to end birthright citizenship—a guarantee enshrined in the 14th Amendment to overturn Dred Scott v. Sandford and ensure that formerly enslaved people and their descendants would be recognized as full citizens under the law. This Court is paving the way to end the promise and practice of democracy, and it is clear that this road is paved by attacking the people this country has historically oppressed.
We must honor the legacy of Rep. John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, and the countless people whose extraordinary courage made the Voting Rights Act possible, including Unitarian Universalists who answered the call of justice with deep faith and commitment. We remember Rev. James Reeb and Viola Liuzzo, a Unitarian Universalist who supported the Selma to Montgomery marches, along with the many UU ministers and lay leaders who organized, marched, fundraised, and showed up in solidarity during the Civil Rights Movement.
Their faith was not abstract, it was lived through courage, relationship, and a deep belief in human dignity. We honor them now by answering the call of our time. Our faith compels us toward creating the “beloved community,” a vision of a nation in which every person’s worthiness and dignity is honored not only in our congregations, but in civic and political life.
Side With Love and the Unitarian Universalist Association call on Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act without delay. And we call on us, people of faith, to remember our power. When people organized for Civil Rights, they did not have the courts on their side, nor Congress, nor public opinion. But faith showed up. It must show up again, through our actions. Let’s recommit ourselves to the long, faithful work of ensuring that democracy belongs to absolutely everyone.
In solidarity,
The Side With Love Team
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UU the Vote has expanded rapidly to meet this moment, because getting out the vote is no longer enough. We must also protect voters and defend our elections from coordinated attacks. The threat is real and it is happening in real time. Your gift today fuels rapid response, on-the-ground protection, and the fight to ensure every voice is heard. Give now:
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Side With Love's The Gathering’s 250th Anniversary Series
Join us for this special series as we examine the limits and possibilities of American democracy and begin shaping a multiracial, interdependent democracy where everyone can thrive.
Together with faith leaders, organizers, and scholars, we will tell the truth about the stories that formed this nation, confront narratives that have justified exclusion, and create new ones rooted in solidarity, collective power, and shared freedom.
Join us to get out the vote leading up the PA primary
We are calling New Voices Reproductive Justice (NVRJ) focuses on long-term, non-partisan voter engagement, targeting Black women, queer, and marginalized communities in PA.
Take action on May 12, 4-6pm ET.
The tide is rising, beloveds, and so are we. Today, the stakes are high. But today, we show up. We show up in larger numbers. We show up more rooted in our faith.
We show up to follow the leadership of those most impacted to build political agency alongside our beloved siblings. SCOTUS will not have the last word on voting, the people will. Help us get out the vote before the PA primary election.
TONIGHT: The No Kings coalition will hold a mass call
In response to the Supreme Court decision join LDF, ACLU, and more for a rapid response call. Please RSVP for this urgent call here and send this link to your networks.
