Protesters at Alabama Capitol speak out against changes to congressional maps

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:03]WVTM 13 NEWS STARTS NOW.

[00:00:05]THOUSANDS CALLED FOR ACTION IN MONTGOMERY AFTER LAWMAKERS CHANGED THE VOTING MAPS.

[00:00:09]LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

[00:00:12]THANKS SO MUCH FOR STAYING UP WITH US AT 10:00, I’M TRAVIS ROBERTSON.

[00:00:17]POLITICAL LEADERS, ACTIVISTS AND VOTERS SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE LAST MINUTE CHANGES IN WHAT’S BEING CALLED A DAY OF ACTION.

[00:00:24]WVTM 13 ERIN LEWELLYN WENT DOWN TO MONTGOMERY, WHERE ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE SOUTH IN THIS REDISTRICTING FIGHT.

[00:00:30]THE SOUTH GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.

[00:00:32]WE’RE NOT GOING BACK.

[00:00:34]LETTING THE REST OF THE COUNTRY KNOW ALL ROADS LEAD RIGHT HERE.

[00:00:38]IT IS TIME FOR THE NORTH TO PULL UP TO THE SOUTH.

[00:00:42]THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE STEPS OF THE ALABAMA STATE CAPITOL FOR A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION BEFORE TUESDAY’S PRIMARY ELECTION.

[00:00:49]Y’ALL SOUND GOOD.

[00:00:50]OUR RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY 12 YEAR OLD GOT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED IN 1968.

[00:00:57]THIS IS THE CLOSEST WE’LL COME TO IT.

[00:00:59]UNFORTUNATELY, WE SHOULDN’T EVEN HAVE TO BE BACK HERE.

[00:01:01]BUT WE ARE BACK HERE RAISING THEIR VOICES.

[00:01:04]LET THE PREACHER SING AND EVEN SINGING THE SONGS OF FREEDOM, URGING PEOPLE TO STAY ENGAGED AS THE STATE’S LEGAL BATTLE OVER CONGRESSIONAL MAPS CONTINUES.

[00:01:12]I ONLY HAVE A YEAR UNTIL I CAN VOTE AND THIS THIS, EVERYTHING THAT’S GOING ON IS SO CRAZY THAT HONESTLY, WITH HOW IT’S GOING, I DON’T.

[00:01:20]IF I’M NOT HERE OR LIKE THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN, WHO KNOWS, I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE IN A YEAR.

[00:01:25]CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL REPRESENTS ONE OF THE STATE’S MAJORITY-BLACK DISTRICTS, AND SHE SAYS SHE COULD LOSE HER SEAT DEPENDING ON WHICH MAPS ARE USED.

[00:01:33]SHE SAID SATURDAY’S EVENT WASN’T JUST A PROTEST, BUT A CALL TO ACTION AND A MOVEMENT.

[00:01:38]IT’S NOT ABOUT ONE STATE HOUSE OR ONE STATE.

[00:01:41]IT’S ABOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RIGHT OF EVERY AMERICAN TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD IN THE HOUSES OF POWER.

[00:01:48]TENNESSEE CONGRESSMAN JUSTIN JONES CAME TO SHOW WHAT HE CALLS SOUTHERN SOLIDARITY, AND TO SEND THE MESSAGE ALABAMA IS NOT ALONE.

[00:01:55]WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED.

[00:01:56]WE WILL NOT GO BACK.

[00:01:57]BUT WE’RE NOT GOING TO YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOT GONNA ACCEPT THESE THINGS LYING DOWN.

[00:02:00]WE’RE GOING TO RISE UP AS A NEW MOVEMENT TO SAY THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

[00:02:03]AND THIS IS OUR SELMA MONTGOMERY.

[00:02:05]TIME TO STAND UP FOR OUR PEOPLE.

[00:02:06]WITH MANY HOPING TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO KEEP PUSHING FOR CHANGE.

[00:02:10]IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I’M LIKE, I TIME TRAVELED, HONESTLY.

[00:02:14]BUT IN GENERAL, I SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE HERE.

[00:02:16]BUT I’M GLAD I AM, SO I CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL DO HAVE RIGHTS SO WE CAN HONOR OUR ANCESTORS