Clyburn Claims Supreme Court Trying to Reinstate Segregation

Speaking on MSNBC’s “PoliticsNation” on Saturday, Clyburn made the inflammatory claim while discussing recent redistricting battles and voting rights challenges across the American South, according to Breitbart News.

The South Carolina congressman’s remarks came in response to a question from host Al Sharpton about recent developments in redistricting cases. Sharpton referenced multiple Southern states where Republican-drawn maps have faced legal challenges, including Louisiana’s elimination of a majority-black district and a federal appeals court decision allowing Alabama to use a previously contested map.

Clyburn characterized these developments as part of a broader pattern targeting the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He pointed to the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision, which eliminated Section Five preclearance requirements, as the starting point of what he views as a systematic dismantling of voting rights protections.

The congressman noted that Chief Justice John Roberts had suggested at the time of the Shelby County decision that Section Two enforcement mechanisms would remain available if problems arose. However, Clyburn argued that subsequent rulings have effectively neutralized Section Two as well.

Clyburn warned that the Supreme Court’s approach could lead to consequences similar to those following the original Plessy v. Ferguson decision from the 1890s. He cited the historical impact of that era on African-American congressional representation, noting a 29-year period of severely diminished black representation nationally and 95 years of such underrepresentation in South Carolina specifically.

The congressman’s seat survived recent redistricting challenges, though he emphasized that the fight extends far beyond individual districts or states.

With information from Breitbart News