Congresswoman Sewell joins other leaders to discuss impact of Shelby County v. Holder 10 years later

The impacts of Shelby County v. Holder were front and center Wednesday as leaders gathered at the 16th Street Baptist Church to discuss the last 10 years since the decision. "As we think about the rights that we have fought so hard for collectively to be under attack and the price that so many have paid for being willing to stand up for rights, and I think this is part of the hallowed ground that we're on," Maya Wiley from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said. Within the last decade, these leaders said they're looking now to the future. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13 "It has become a game of hiding the truth behind long-standing doctrines that have no place when it comes to that most sacred right to vote," Thomas Saenz with the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said. As the work continues to reverse what many leaders said were negative impacts of Shelby County v. Holder, Congresswoman Terri Sewell said a much more recent decision by the Supreme Court that also originated out of Alabama is a major step forward. Allen v. Milligan ruled Alabama's congressional maps violated the Voting Rights Act and diluted the Black vote. Now, a new map is in the process of being drawn. "Fair representation requires when you have minority populations that are in excess ... it's unacceptable and that's a win for democracy itself," Sewell said. Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeLeaders, including Sewell, said their goal now is to make sure the new maps are fair.