US Supreme Court decision weakens Voting Rights Act, prompting NAACP boycott of SEC schools

In April 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that declared congressional maps drawn to create majority‑Black districts illegal, effectively dismantling Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The decision enabled Republican‑controlled legislatures in Southern states—including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas—to redraw districts, sharply reducing the number of majority‑Black congressional seats.

The NAACP responded with the “Out of Bounds” campaign, urging Black student‑athletes, recruits, alumni and fans to withhold financial support from public universities in those states, arguing that the revenue generated by SEC college sports fuels states that are suppressing Black voting power.

Separately, families of civil‑rights activists, such as the son of Viola Liuzzo, voiced outrage, noting the ruling revives the era of voter suppression that led to Liuzzo’s death. He said, “My mother did not give her life. Her life was taken…It’s disgusting,” highlighting the personal impact of the Court’s decision.