Rev. Bishop Barber speaks to a crowd outside the N.C. General Assembly on Oct. 23, 2025 (Photo by Ahmed Jallow/NC Newsline)
Civil rights attorneys announced plans Thursday to challenge North Carolina’s newly drawn congressional districts, arguing the Republican-led map is designed to weaken Black voting power in the state’s northeast.
Lawyers with the nonprofit firm Forward Justice, speaking at a press conference in front of the General Assembly building in Raleigh, said they will file a legal challenge targeting changes to the 1st congressional district, a predominantly rural region that has elected a Black representative since 1992.
“These maps will erode the voting rights advances achieved over decades in the Black Belt region. The new maps dismantle a district that is over 40% Black, and it has consistently elected a Black representative,” said Kathleen Roblez, senior voting rights counsel at Forward Justice.
The legislature this week finalized new congressional district lines designed to create an additional Republican seat.
Republicans drew the new congressional district boundaries at the behest of President Donald Trump, who is looking to prevent Democrats from taking a majority in the U.S. House after next year’s midterm elections.
The new plan will bring the state congressional delegation from 10 Republicans and four Democrats to 11 Republicans and three Democrats.
Critics of the new plan claim that it violates the federal Voting Rights Act by preventing Black voters from electing the candidate of their choice.
Republican legislators denied that claim, and maintained they did not use racial data in crafting the new plan. They said they believe the new map will be upheld by the courts.
US Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) narrowly won reelection to a second term last year.
The district as legislators created it for the 2024 election is the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit. A three-judge panel is deciding whether the 1st District, other congressional districts, and state Senate districts dilute Black voting power.
Speaking at the event, Rev. William Barber, founder of Repairers of the Breach, called the redistricting “political robbery.”
“It is a boldfaced lie when they say that they don’t know what this is doing to Black voters and poor voters,” Barber said. “They know exactly what they’re doing. It’s the data that they use to make these decisions.”
Barber framed the changes as a continuation of efforts to suppress Black political participation in eastern North Carolina. “This effort is racist,” he said. “This is a direct attack on the state’s Black Belt district and marginalized community.”
Neither Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) nor House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) immediately responded to a request for comment.
Ashley Mitchell, an attorney with Forward Justice, said the new maps follow years of efforts to limit voter participation in North Carolina, including voter ID requirements, attempts to shorten early voting, restrictions on voter registration, and attacks on absentee ballots.
“This most likely will not be the last attempt to silence voters, especially Black voters across the state, though this devastating attack had intentions of silencing us,” Mitchell said.” We are not going to sit back. We are going to fight back.” Forward Justice attorneys declined to disclose the details of their legal strategy.
Even though Republicans have said race played no role in redrawing the district, Barber said that racial intent must be judged by a policy’s consequences, not just the language used to justify it. “You look at the impact, and what they have done will directly impact the Black Belt of North Carolina,” he said.
The attorneys said they will provide more details at a community meeting on Nov. 2 in Wilson.
Hence then, the article about civil rights groups vow challenge to north carolina s new congressional maps was published today ( ) and is available on NC news line ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Civil rights groups vow challenge to North Carolina’s new congressional maps )
Also on site :
- Five killed in helicopter crash on Africa’s highest mountain (VIDEO)
- Presidency’s General Secretariat reviews Social Insurance institution performance
- The Christmas Day Storm