SACRAMENTO, CA—This week, the members of the California Legislative Black Caucus stood proudly with their legislative colleagues in passing the Election Rigging Response Act to protect the collective voice of Californians in the halls of Congress.
This crucial legislative package was created in direct response to the Trump Administration’s repeated attacks on democracy and the continued dismantling of the most vital functions of government.
The members of the California Legislative Black Caucus will not remain silent while Texas or any other state implements Donald Trump’s demands to euthanize discourse and trample the hard-won rights of millions of Americans. Trump’s plans disenfranchise Black voters, weaken our collective voice, and further erode the vital protections of the Voting Rights Act.
Black communities, both here in California and across the nation, have been disproportionately harmed by the policies and funding reversals of the Trump administration, chief among them, H.R. 1—the Big Ugly Bill.
The devastating impact of these corrupt cuts are crystal clear: rollbacks that strip healthcare access from underserved neighborhoods and worsen health disparities; education cuts that narrow opportunities for Black students and already-underfunded schools in our communities; infrastructure neglect that leaves historically Black neighborhoods without the investment needed to thrive; and haphazard economic policies that drive up the cost of everyday goods, hitting working Black families hardest.
At the same time, we are witnessing a deliberate and coordinated effort to chisel away at the Voting Rights Act. We have seen the closure of polling places in Black neighborhoods and district lines redrawn to block Black participation.
Trump's Texas boondoggle and renewed vows to end mail-in ballots are only the latest and most brazen examples of his will to subvert the voters. His goal is clear: silence dissent and hide his rampant corruption and pay-to-play grift from accountability.
The members of the California Legislative Black Caucus stand in full solidarity with the Texas legislators who fought against these plans. We stand with the members of Congress holding the line against tyranny, and we stand with the people of California–and the nation–who are lifting their voices to say, ‘enough is enough.’
We will do what is necessary to preserve democracy and protect the rights of every voter, especially those in Black communities who have been systematically targeted and marginalized for generations.
This is not simply about politics. It is about justice, fairness, and ensuring that the voices of Black Americans are not erased from the halls of power. The California Legislative Black Caucus will continue to fight to protect the vote, defend the dignity of our communities, and uphold the promise of equality under the law.
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