The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision in Louisiana v. Callais
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30th, 2026
1:00 p.m. ET
MEDIA CONTACT
Mo Banks
mo.banks@andrewgoodman.org
(201) 502-6144
Statement from The Andrew Goodman Foundation on the Supreme Court’s Decision in Louisiana v. Callais
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, striking down a Louisiana congressional map that had created a second majority-Black district.
The Andrew Goodman Foundation (AGF) strongly condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. This ruling weakens the Voting Rights Act and makes it more difficult to challenge discriminatory voting maps that silence Black voters, young voters, voters with disabilities, and other communities who have historically been left out of the electoral process. At a moment when access to the ballot is already under threat in many parts of the country, this decision moves us further away from a fair and representative democracy.
The Voting Rights Act is not just a piece of legislation to us. It is tied directly to our legacy story and our mission. Andrew Goodman went to Mississippi during Freedom Summer 1964 to help expand access to the ballot and register African Americans to vote. He was murdered alongside James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner for that work. The protections now being stripped away were built through sacrifice, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the democratic process.
“This decision is a profound setback for voting rights in America,” said David Goodman, AGF board member and brother of Andrew Goodman. “The Voting Rights Act exists because people were willing to risk everything for the right to vote. Weakening it disregards that history and makes it harder for millions of Americans to have their voices heard.”
The Andrew Goodman Foundation stands with students, organizations, and communities nationwide who are continuing the fight for fair representation and equal access to the ballot. We will not waver in our commitment to building a democracy where every voice is heard and every vote counts.
About The Andrew Goodman Foundation
The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s mission is to make young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy by training the next generation of leaders, engaging young voters, and challenging restrictive voter suppression laws. The organization is named after Andrew Goodman, a Freedom Summer volunteer and champion of equality and voting rights who was murdered, alongside James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner, by the KKK in 1964 while registering Black Americans to vote in Mississippi. To learn more, visit www.andrewgoodman.org.
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