Tagged In: democracy, fair maps, redistricting
Marisa Twigg, Creative and Communications Director, June 2, 2022
Columbus, OH — Nine Ohio advocacy organizations filed a reply amicus brief last night in support of petitioners in the two consolidated congressional redistricting lawsuits. Together, these organizations support invalidation of the second gerrymandered congressional map in its entirety. Members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission are intentionally avoiding their explicit obligations to create and pass a congressional map, a map that accurately reflects Ohioans and ensures equitable representation across the state.
The following statement can be attributed to Chris Tavenor, Staff Attorney at the Ohio Environmental Council:
“Ohioans deserve nothing less than what they voted for in 2018: fair representation in Washington D.C., in districts designed to keep their communities together. They deserve and voted for reforms that should have brought them a map devoid of partisan bias—but some members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission have outright ignored that constitutional obligation. Both our original brief and our reply brief support the arguments of the petitioners as they call for an invalidation of the entire map. The OEC is proud to represent ourselves and eight other organizations in the fight for a fair congressional map for all who call Ohio home.”
The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) drafted the brief, and is joined by Innovation Ohio, LEAD Ohio, Ohio Citizen Action, Ohio Farmers Union, the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, the Ohio Unity Coalition, OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership, and Red, Wine & Blue.
The full reply amicus brief can be viewed here. To read statements from the Ohio advocacy organizations regarding their participation as amicus curiae, please view our press release for the original amicus brief.
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The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is the state’s most comprehensive and effective environmental advocate for a healthier, more sustainable Ohio. The OEC develops and ensures the implementation of forward-thinking, science-based, pragmatic solutions to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home.
Media Inquiries: mtwigg<at>theoec.org