MALDEF

MALDEF STATEMENT ON ABBOTT V. PEREZ RULING BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT


June 25, 2018


San Antonio, TX - Please attribute the following statement on today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Abbott v. Perez to Nina Perales, vice president of litigation at MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund).

MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) represents the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force and individual voters in this case and was alone in presenting the claim involving Texas House District 90.

Much of the relief won for Latino voters in this case was granted in 2012 following earlier trials, including the creation and restoration of minority districts in West Texas, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston and South Texas:

"The Supreme Court's decision in favor of Latino voters in Ft. Worth is a strong warning to Texas that it cannot use race to manipulate district boundaries to favor incumbents. Like all other voters, Latinos have the right to live in election districts whose lines are not infected by the use of race for political ends."



Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the "Latino Legal Voice for Civil Rights in America" MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.

Copyright 2009 MALDEF, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund