Open Letter: Stop Chasing the Boogeyman. Start Following the Law.

To Steve Marshall — and anyone pushing the same narrative:

Let’s stop pretending.

When you claim Black congressional districts would be “better off” under Republican control, you’re not offering policy.

You’re pushing control disguised as concern.

And people see it.

The Law Already Spoke—Clearly

Under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, states cannot dilute minority voting power.

In Allen v. Milligan, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that Alabama’s map likely did exactly that.

The federal court found:

“The State’s 2021 redistricting plan likely violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.”

And further:

“The plaintiffs have shown a reasonable probability of success… that the plan unlawfully dilutes Black voting strength.”

That’s not politics.

That’s the law.

Blaming the Courts Is a Distraction

Let’s deal with the narrative head-on.

The courts did not create this problem. Republicans in Alabama create the problem by not following the rule a law. Something you claim to stand by in voice, but absent in practice. That's not a conservative value. That's a pattern of hypocrisy. 

The courts corrected it. And you and your colleagues are willing to defy the judiciary so much for power and control, that you are willing to gain the world and loose your soul. That's your cross to bear not mines. You will have to answer to a higher power, the ultimate Judge, Attorney General, and Sealer of Faith. There will consequences beyond though and behavior. May the Lord have mercy on your soul. 

If Alabama had followed the law the first time, there would be no intervention, no ruling, and no need for correction. Seeking absolute power and control is beyond the law to you and your colleagues. A claim of being for law and order is as dry as the desert sand with a fate no one can endure. 

So when leaders suggest the courts are the issue, what they’re really doing is shifting blame away from a failure to comply.

The Boogeyman Politics Has to Stop

Here’s where this conversation gets real.

We keep hearing about threats—

“woke,”

“diversity,”

“equity,”

“inclusion.”

"justice"

These words are treated like something hiding under the bed.

Like a boogeyman.

Something dangerous.

Something to fear.

Something to fight.

But let’s be honest:

There is no boogeyman.

There is no hidden force coming to take anything from anyone.

What’s actually happening is much simpler:

People are asking for:

Fair representation

Equal access

Basic inclusion in the political process

That’s not radical.

That’s the standard.

This Is About Power—Not Protection

When fear-based language replaces facts, it’s usually covering something else.

In this case, it’s covering a simple truth:

This is about who controls representation

Because majority-Black districts exist for one reason:

To ensure voters have a fair opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

Not guaranteed outcomes—

just a fair shot.

So when that system is challenged, the question isn’t “what’s better for voters?”

The real question is:

Who benefits from changing it?

Alabama Is Bigger Than One Narrative

Alabama is not:

One party

One race

One perspective

It is a mix of people, communities, and voices.

And the law requires that those voices have a fair chance to be heard.

Not filtered.

Not reshaped.

Not controlled.

Taxpayers Deserve Reality, Not Rhetoric

People are paying taxes expecting results:

Better communities

Real opportunity

Functional leadership

Not political distractions built around imaginary threats.

If leadership is spending more time fighting words like “equity” than delivering actual results, then priorities are out of order.

History Is Not Optional

There’s a reason the Voting Rights Act exists.

Because this has happened before.

And courts have made it clear:

You don’t get to repeat history under new language or different framing.

We’re Not Going Back

Let me be direct:

People are not going backwards.

Not on representation.

Not on voting rights.

Not on access to power.

And definitely not because of fear-based narratives that don’t match reality.

Final Word

This isn’t a horror story.

There’s no monster hiding in the dark.

No boogeyman under the bed.

Everything is happening in plain sight.

We see it. We are watching. 

The law is clear.

The rulings are clear.

And the people are paying attention.

Get it right or get voted out of office.

Plain and simple. 

If they catch you sleeping, you might lose everything. Stay woke!!

Keith O. Williams is an independent candidate for Alabama State House of Representatives District 55. He is a nonprofit leader, a community advocate, a certified counseling practitioner, and a peer support specialist. Williams is will face incumbent Travis Hendrix in the General Election on November 3, 2026.

To learn more about the campaign, please visit https://keithforalhd55.keithowilliams.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @kowilliamspc. 

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