News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know T he US Supreme Court onWednesday, April 29, 2026, delivered a landmark 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that significantly altered the legal land- scape of American elections. The decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, effectively narrowed the scope of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), making it drastically more difficult for plaintiffs to challenge legislative maps on the grounds of racial vote dilution. The ruling sparked immediate and fierce condemna- tion from civil rights advocates and Democratic lead- ers, who argue the Court has signaled a “day of loss” for American democracy. Former US President Barack Obama issued a sharp critique of the ruling, framing it as a strategic retreat by the Court from its role as a protector of minority rights. He argued the decision provides a legal “loophole” for state legislatures to weaken the voting power of Black and brown communities. Obama noted that by allowing states to claim “parti- sanship” as their motivation, the Court has given a green light to systematic dilution of minority votes. “Today’s Supreme Court decision effectively guts a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act, freeing state legislatures to gerrymander legislative districts to systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities – so long as they do it under the guise of ‘partisanship’ rather than explicit ‘racial bias.’ And it serves as just one more example of how a majority of the current Court seems intent on abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy and protecting the rights of minority groups against majority overreach,” Obama posted on X. He emphasized that while the ruling is a setback, it serves as a catalyst for mobilization, urging citizens to vote at “every level” to counteract the decision’s impact. “The good news is that such setbacks can be over- come. But that will only happen if citizens across the country who cherish our democratic ideals continue to mobilize and vote in record numbers – not just in the upcoming midterms or in high profile races, but in every election and every level,” added Obama. Kamala Harris characterised the ruling as a deliberate “power grab.” She linked the decision to a decades-long conservative agenda aimed at entrenching political power. She argued the ruling guts the last remaining federal protections against maps designed to strip political power from “Black and brown voters.” “Today’s Supreme Court ruling guts the Voting Rights Act and turns back the clock on the foundational promise of equality and fairness in our election systems. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was one of the last remaining fed- eral protections for Black and brown voters against maps deliberately drawn to dilute their political power. That protection has been stripped away. It is an outrage. But it is not a surprise. It is part of an agenda that conservatives set in place decades ago to steal power from everyday people and then cling to that power for generations,” she posted on X. Harris warned that legislatures, particularly in the South, will now “rush to redraw districts” ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election. She connected the “cheat and choose” tactics of map- makers to a failure to address kitchen-table issues like the cost of groceries, gas, and housing. “The court’s decision is motivated by politics and designed to give an upper hand to Donald Trump’s Republican Party, which faces the threat of losing the upcoming midterm elections. We must pay attention to what happens next. The fight now returns to the states. Legislatures — particularly those in the South —will rush to redraw districts before voting for the midterms begins in just a few months. Already, Louisiana and Florida are planning to redraw their maps, and we should not be surprised if others rapidly follow suit ahead of the mid- terms and 2028. Their politically-motivated power grab is meant to protect elected Republicans from any conse- quences for their failure to make groceries, gas, health care, or housing more affordable for you and your family. They want to cheat and choose their voters, instead of the voters deciding who they choose. The mission before us is to restore the power of the people. There is no ques- tion our fight became harder today, but I know we are up for the battle,” added Kamala Harris. The core of the Court’s ruling rests on the distinction between racial gerrymandering (unconstitutional) and partisan gerrymandering (which the Court previously ruled in 2019 is not a matter for federal courts). In Callais, the conservative majority established a higher evidentiary bar for voters of color. Plaintiffs must now provide “stronger proof” that a map was drawn spe- cifically to discriminate based on race, rather than simply to achieve a partisan advantage. Justice Alito noted that because race and party affilia- tion are often closely correlated, the Court must presume “legislative good faith.” “The Callais requirements have laid the groundwork for the largest reduction in minority representation since the era following Reconstruction,” said Justice Elena Kagan, in her dissent. The ruling has immediate consequences for several states currently embroiled in redistricting battles. Louisiana & Florida are both expected to move forward with map revisions that could eliminate minority-oppor- tunity districts. Civil rights groups must now produce “alternative maps” that achieve the state’s partisan goals without us- ing race, a task many experts describe as a legal “Mission Impossible.” With federal protections weakened, the “fight returns to the states,” placing a premium on state supreme court elections and local legislative races -ANI “A Day Of Loss”: US Supreme Court Dilutes Voting Rights Act In Ruling, Sparking Outcry From Obama And Harris Former President Barack Obama, left, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, right. PHOTO:COURTESY ANI Hindus For Human Rights Endorses Vichal Kumar Of New York For US Congress T he advocacy organization Hindus for Human Rights Action (HfHR Action) announced May 1, 2026, its endorsement of Vichal Kumar, who is running to represent NewYork’s 7th district in the United States House of Representatives. “Vichal is a proud, progressive South Asian who will fight for all communities across Brooklyn and Queens,” a press release from HfHR said. Calling him a “vocal supporter of civil liberties and human rights here at home and abroad,” the organization added, “Hindu Ameri- cans deserve a champion for dignity and a better future, and we are confident that Vichal would carry out that mission and fight for justice, peace, and truth every single day.” Accepting the endorsement, Kumar ( https://linktr.ee/kumar4ny. ) is quoted saying, “I’m honored to have earned the endorsement of Hindus for Human Rights Action. Their commitment to equi- ty and their recognition of how our com- munities and issues intersect are values that have shaped my career and define our campaign. They represent the com- mitments that so many Hindu Americans have been waiting to see organized.” Kumar, a public defender of 20-years standing, said he was not taking any corporate money for his campaign. He has been endorsed by UnrigWashington, an initiative that supports overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court decision regarding corporate campaign money as well as enacting anti-corruption reform. Kumar began his legal career at The Bronx Defenders while attending Hof- stra Law at night, went on to build the Civil Defense Practice at Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and most recently served as the Managing Director at Partners for Justice, “where he scaled holistic-defense programs across the country—from NewYork to rural and con- servative jurisdictions including Illinois, Missouri, and Texas.” He is a past President of the South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) and the South Asian Bar Associa- tion of NewYork (SABANY). By a StaffWriter Vichal Kumar PHOTO:COURTESY HINDUS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS News India Times (May 2, 2026 - May 8, 2026) May 8, 2026 6 US Affairs