SCOTUS Declares Racism Over; Strikes Down Section of Voting Rights Act

By Erin Gloria Ryan  |  June 25, 2013 | 3:00pm
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GREAT NEWS, GUYS! RACISM IS OVER— well, over-ish. At least it is according to today’s 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that a key component of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional.

The opinion, which struck down a section of the Voting Rights act requiring regions with histories of institutionalized racial discrimination to receive federal approval before changing voting laws, was written by Chief Justice Roberts. Concurring was noted sexual harassment enthusiast Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote that he believed the Court’s ruling didn’t go far enough to allow states with histories of racism to do whatthefuck ever they wanted. Poor Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has read, like, all of the dissenting opinions this session, also read the dissent in this case, noting that the success of the Voting Rights Act is a testament to its necessity.

Please stay alive forever, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

We’ll have more in-depth coverage of the depth of the inherent fuckery in the Shelby County v. Holder later, but for now, here’s a succinct summary from the AP:

The justices said in 5-4 vote that the law Congress most recently renewed in 2006 relies on 40-year-old data that does not reflect racial progress and changes in U.S. society.
The court did not strike down the advance approval requirement of the law that has been used, mainly in the South, to open up polling places to minority voters in the nearly half century since it was first enacted in 1965. But the justices did say lawmakers must update the formula for determining which parts of the country must seek Washington’s approval, in advance, for election changes.

Instead, determining which states need to seek federal approval before shitting all over the voting rights of non-white people will be left to Congress which – AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Sorry. I need to take a laugh break. The fact that the Supreme Court thinks Congress is capable of completing anything is super adorable.

[AP]

 
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