CINCINNATI NAACP TAKES STRONG STAND: YES ON ISSUE 1!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 30, 2024
Contact: Joe Mallory, President Cincinnati NAACP
info@cincinnatinaacp.com |  513-281-1900

At a recent General Membership Meeting, the Cincinnati NAACP unanimously voted to support Issue 1, marking a decisive stance in favor of redistricting reform. The members present voted to endorse the proposed legislation that aims to dismantle the current Ohio Redistricting Commission (ORC).

Gerrymandering—the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage or to dilute the voting power of ethnic or minority groups—has plagued our country since the Jim Crow era, even following the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Given the national trend of racial gerrymandering, deliberately aimed at weakening the voting power of African-Americans and other protected groups, the Cincinnati NAACP is unequivocally supporting Issue 1. This legislation seeks to end gerrymandering by removing already elected politicians from the redistricting process.

Issue 1 proposes the creation of a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (OCRC), consisting of Republican, Democratic, and independent citizens who will represent the diverse geography and demographics of the state. Importantly, the commission will exclude current or former politicians, political party officials, lobbyists, and major political donors—a provision that explains the fierce opposition from those seeking to maintain control over the process.
The proposed reform mandates the creation of fair and impartial districts, making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that favor any political party or individual politician.

We strongly encourage a vote of “YES on Issue 1”.

For more information about our position, please contact our office at (513) 281-1900. And remember, with the Cincinnati NAACP—YOU Are The Movement. Join us today by visiting our website at www.cincinnatinaacp.com