Author’s Note: Sydney Gallardo will intern with Southern Poverty Law Center starting in June. Gallardo did not play a role in the planning of this protest.
After Gov. Kay Ivey called a special session in anticipation of possible redistricting, nearly 400 people rallied in front of the Alabama State House on May 4 to protest the session and changes to Alabama’s districts.
In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that Alabama’s previous congressional map violated Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, resulting in a new map being drawn. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama also ruled that the state violated the law regarding its state Senate district map. Alabama is currently prohibited from changing its maps until 2030.
However, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Louisiana v. Callais weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices and procedures that discriminate based on race. After Black voters sued following the 2023 Alabama suit, Louisiana redrew two Black-majority districts, leading to Louisiana v. Callais. The Court determined that Louisiana’s redistricting was unconstitutional racial gerrymandering under the Fifteenth Amendment.
Although Section 2 was not ruled unconstitutional, it now requires plantiffs to prove intentional discrimination under the majority opinion. Previously, a map could be considered discriminatory regardless of intention.
Since then, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has filed several emergency motions to lift the redistricting restrictions with the Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
The legislation — HB1 and SB1 — would set up special congressional and state Senate primary elections for the affected districts based on Alabama’s original 2023 maps. Even if the courts rule after the primaries on May 19, the bills allow for special elections to take place, as long as the state can certify the results before August 26.
Protesters stand outside of the State House with signs protesting HB1, SB1 and changes to Alabama’s district maps.
Protesters believe the legislation and attempt to change the congressional and state Senate maps are unconstitutional and an attack on the Voting Rights Act, especially ahead of the primaries and midterms.
“This is not how democracy is supposed to function,” said JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist, executive director of American Civil Liberty Union. “This is not about political party, let me make that clear. This is about silencing Black voices; this is about silencing those who have been historically subjugated and silenced, and I’ve got to tell you something real because that’s how white supremacy works.”
ACLU of Alabama Executive Director JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist speaks at the rally outside the State House on May 4, 2026.
The protest was organized by and included speakers from Black Voters Matter, ACLU of Alabama, Southern Poverty Law Center and Alabama Forward among other organizations.
Throughout the rally, chants of “we’re not going back” and the theme of people-driven progress spread.
“This feels like the time when the laws existed on paper but not in practice,” said Deanna Reed, the Alabama state organizing manager for Black Voters Matter. “It feels like the time when rights were written down, but they weren’t respected. It feels like that echos the decisions of Dred Scott v. Samford, when the highest court in the land declared that Black people had no rights and would not be respected. But let’s be very clear: The people [are] not going back.”
Deanna Reed, the Alabama state organizing manager for Black Voters Matter, speaks at the rally outside the State House on May 4, 2026.
Among the speakers was Sheyann Webb-Christburg, a civil rights activist who was only eight years old when she participated in the Selma to Montgomery March on March 7, 1965, where she and other protesters were attacked by law enforcement. Webb-Christburg spoke about her frustrations with the current situation as she looked back on the fight for voting rights.
“As I reflect on that Bloody Sunday March today, I am deeply saddened to stand here today for us to be in the state in which we’re in, and not only fighting to keep our right to vote but also fighting to continue to get people to continue to vote,” Webb-Christburg said.
Despite the difficulties, she urged people to “organize, strategize and mobilize.”
“We must not become disencouraged and silenced,” Webb-Christburg said. “We must know that silence is not an option. Now is the time to fight back. Now is the time to act. We’re not going back.”
Sheyann Webb-Christburg speaks at the rally outside the State House on May 4, 2026.
After the rally, protesters went inside to speak to their representatives.
On May 7, the Alabama Legislature passed SB1 and HB1, despite flooding and evacuations at the Alabama State House. Special elections will only take place if the federal injunctions are lifted.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
