Statement on Supreme Court Decision Undermining the Voting Rights Act  

Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth U.S., issued the following statement today

WASHINGTON — Today’s Supreme Court decision strengthens Republicans’ aim to retain lasting majorities in the House of Representatives. The Court’s seemingly political decision is a devastating blow, not only to voting rights but also to environmental justice and the future of our democracy.

By further weakening protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — once the cornerstone of American civil rights — the Court has made it easier for state legislatures to silence the very communities most impacted by environmental harm.  

The connection between voting rights and environmental protection is direct and undeniable. Communities of color and low-income communities bear a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution, from toxic waste to contaminated drinking water to the worst impacts of climate change. When these communities lose political representation through discriminatory redistricting, they lose power to fight for clean air, safe water, and a livable world.  

Make no mistake: the conservative majority of the Supreme Court is systematically eviscerating the protections afforded by the Voting Right Act. Now, this majority is treating one of America’s most important civil rights laws as an inconvenience to be circumvented rather than a foundational tenet of our very democracy. Today’s ruling is judicial activism in service to partisan advantage.  

 The Court’s conservative majority knows exactly what it is doing. These Justices are handing Republican state legislatures the tools to entrench permanent voting majorities of its choosing, regardless of how people actually vote. And they are doing it by targeting the political power of the very communities on the frontlines of both the civil rights and environmental justice movements. With this single decision, the Supreme Court has undermined the ability of millions of Americans to advocate for their own health, safety, and future.  

Call to Action  

To our members, supporters, and partners: this moment requires us to connect the dots between environmental advocacy and democracy itself. We cannot win the fight for our planet without ensuring that every person has an equal voice.  

We call on Congress to immediately pass new voting rights legislation that restores the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. We call on state legislatures to reject discriminatory redistricting and ensure fair representation. And we call on every American who cares about environmental justice to recognize that the fight for our planet and the fight for voting rights are one and the same.  

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has chosen partisanship over justice and political advantage over democratic principles. But our resolve to protect people and the planet has never been stronger. We will not be silenced, and we will not stop fighting.

Contact: Lindsay Tice, [email protected], (202) 783-7400 ext. 8403