Metro Council members sue city, saying new district map is illegal and violates Voting Rights Act

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A new district map for East Baton Rouge Parish will soon be challenged in court.

Five black members of the Metro Council, along with two citizens, filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday. They claim the maps adopted in 2022 violate the Voting Rights Act.

“What we are here today is to announce the filing of a new federal voting rights lawsuit just a few minutes ago,” said attorney William Most.

Most were joined Wednesday afternoon by four of the five Metro Council members named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, along with two civilians. They say they’re suing the city and parish because a new district map gives the majority to whites, despite the most recent census showing African-Americans as the largest racial group.

“We presented maps that we felt were fair, it was a 6-6 council that didn’t get the seven votes to pass, and our colleagues voted 7-5 to maintain the status quo,” said Councilman Cleve Dunn Jr.

The special meeting for the 2022 vote drew a packed house, with many people providing comments to the council.

“The fact that you are seriously considering adopting a map with five majority-white districts is idiotic,” said one resident in 2022.

Despite the concerns, the map with seven white majority districts was adopted.

Councilman Aaron Moak was among those voting in favor of the map and he said he does not feel it violates the Voting Rights Act.

“We tried to draw several maps. We tried to draw 7-5. We tried to draw 6-6, but everything was outside the guidelines. It would have been inconsistent with the way East Baton Rouge Parish is divided and its population,” Moak said.

As this new fight begins, the group that filed the lawsuit says it’s for the people of Baton Rouge.

“Since you all love the Ten Commandments and you want to implement them in schools. Let’s live by them,” said plaintiff and former Zachary Council Member Lael Montgomery.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is also named in the lawsuit. Her office said they do not comment on pending litigation.

Metro Council members say community donations are paying for the lawsuit. They’ve launched a website so you can read the details for yourself. The card will come into effect in 2025.

The full federal lawsuit is available below.

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