State lawmakers have joined the ACLU of Maryland and the Baltimore County NAACP in calling for changes to the redistricting plan proposed by the Baltimore County Redistricting Commission.
Sens. Delores G. Kelley and Charles E. Sydnor III and Del. Benjamin T. Brooks joined the advocacy groups at a press conference today.
The ACLU of Maryland and the Baltimore County NAACP initially voiced concerns over the proposed redistricting plan on Sept. 29.
The advocacy groups argue that the proposed Baltimore County Council map violates the Voting Rights Act by “packing” Black residents into a single majority district, diluting their voting power.
“We cannot seek redistricting for the benefit of some and forget about how it may affect others,” Dr. Danita Tolson, president of the Baltimore County Branch of the NAACP, said in the Sept. 29 ACLU release.
“We feel that the demographics show that there should be two majority minority districts. Equal minority representation in each district is needed for distributive and social justice,” she stated.
Baltimore County is increasingly becoming racially diverse, with Black, Latinx, and Asian communities continuing to grow.
According to the latest Census data, Baltimore County is 30.3% Black, and BIPOC residents make up 47% of the County’s population.
The new Baltimore County Council Map was approved by the county’s redistricting commission on Sept. 30, but still needs to be voted on by the Baltimore County Council.
The council must hold at least one public hearing prior to voting.
