Statement from State Rep. Juandalynn Givan of Birmingham on Friday’s Passage of House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1, Pertaining to Potential Revisions to Congressional and State Senate Districts

"Today, the Alabama Republican supermajority in the House of Representatives made their intentions painfully clear. By passing House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1, they have once again shown the people of Alabama - and especially Black Alabamians - that they are willing to bend, rewrite, and manipulate the rules of democracy itself in order to hold onto political power.

“Let us be clear: these bills are not about election integrity. They are not about transparency. They are not about protecting voters. They are about preserving white political control at all costs, even when the courts, the Constitution, and the people themselves have demanded fairness.

“For years, Alabama has fought against the reality that Black people make up nearly 30 percent of this state's population and deserve meaningful representation in Congress.

“The courts have already spoken. The evidence has already been presented. The discrimination has already been proven. Yet instead of respecting the spirit of democracy, Republicans in Montgomery continue to search for loopholes, delays, and procedural tricks to dilute Black voting strength and silence communities of color.

“HB1 and SB1 are nothing more than contingency plans for political survival. They are a roadmap for chaos should the United States Supreme Court decide to lift the restrictions tied to redistricting before 2030. Instead of preparing to comply with fairness, Republicans are preparing to weaponize the process again. They are preparing for another round of map manipulation, another attempt to carve up Black communities like political property, and another effort to protect Republican seats over constitutional rights.

“This Legislature had an opportunity to lead with integrity. Instead, it chose fear. Fear of Black political power. Fear of fair representation. Fear of a democracy where every voice actually matters.

“The people of Alabama should be outraged that while working families struggle with healthcare costs, crumbling infrastructure, underfunded schools, gun violence, and economic instability, Republican leadership spent its energy preparing for political warfare over congressional maps. That tells you exactly where their priorities are.

“What happened today is a disgrace to the democratic process and a stain on the legacy of those who bled, marched, and died for the right to vote in this state. From the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the courthouses of Alabama, generations fought to open the doors of democracy — and today's Republican leadership continues trying to slam those doors shut.

“But hear this clearly: Black voters are not going anywhere. Our voices will not be erased. Our communities will not be divided into silence. And no matter how many maps they redraw, no matter how many procedural games they play, they cannot redraw the truth.

“The truth is this: representation matters. Democracy matters. And the people of Alabama deserve a government that respects both.

“History is watching. And history will remember exactly who stood on the side of justice and who stood in the way of it.”

Juandalynn Givan is a Democratic member of the Alabama House of Representatives, serving District 60 in Jefferson County since 2010. A Birmingham native, attorney, and business owner, she earned degrees from Miles College and Miles Law School before working in city government and founding her firm, Givan & Associates. In the legislature, she has focused on issues such as public health, criminal justice reform, and local governance, while building a reputation as a direct and vocal advocate for underserved communities.

For more information, follow Givan’s campaign on Facebook.