Hundreds push back against gerrymandered redistricting maps in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Hundreds gathered outside the North Carolina State Capitol to push back against new redistricting maps they say will silence their voices at the ballot box.

Many in the crowd held signs reading “Stop the Steal” and “Defend Democracy” and calling Republicans cheaters as the General Assembly moves closer to approving new congressional maps.

Demonstrators like Cynthia Morris said they will keep showing up until they put people over politicians.

“I’m here to stop the steal,” Morris said. “It feels like they’re rigging the system for their favor and they can because they’re in power, they have a majority. “I want these representatives to honor their oath to the Constitution and to all of us as voters.”

Under the proposed maps, North Carolina’s 1st congressional district, currently held by Democrat Don Davis, would be gerrymandered to favor Republicans. It’s currently the state’s only competitive district.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton told the crowd that while Democrats don’t have the votes to stop Republicans from passing the maps, they can hold them accountable at the ballot box.

“North Carolina has always been a state that has fought back against partisan and racial gerrymandering and voter suppression,” she said. “And we have always made it through.”

Many protesters called on lawmakers to pass a budget instead, stating the redistricting effort distracts from more urgent issues affecting North Carolina residents.

“This is going to hit people in their pocketbook,” protester Bob Rodriguez said. “It’s going to kill people, unfortunately. As a citizen, I have a responsibility to speak up.”

Braxton Winston, president of North Carolina AFL-CIO, which represents union workers throughout the state, said, “We are united in that fact that we want the General Assembly to actually get and do their job, pass a budget, make sure that Medicaid and Medicare payments keep up, make sure our teachers, our law enforcement officers are able to get the raises they deserve. They aren’t able to get that right now because the General Assembly is prioritizing, doing the bidding of Donald Trump and not their job.”

For Morris, the issue is deeply personal. She said she’s honoring her late son, a veteran who died from cancer over the summer, by continuing his fight for democracy.

“He asked us to promise that we would continue his fight and honor his oath,” she said.

After the rally, protesters marched from the Capitol to the General Assembly, where Clayton encouraged them to visit their representatives’ offices and tell them to vote “no” on the maps.

No counter-protesters were seen at Tuesday’s rally.

Republican leaders have defended the redistricting process, arguing the new maps reflect the will of the voters. They point out North Carolina voted for Donald Trump three times and they need to protect his agenda.