Protests in Tennessee after legislature breaks up majority-Black district
CBS Evening News
0:00 We turn now to Tennessee,
0:01 which today became the first state to redraw voting districts after last
0:05 week's Supreme Court ruling limiting lawmakers
0:07 ability to take race into account.
0:09 The move broke up a majority black district
0:11 and added to a national controversy over altered election maps.
0:14 At least eight states have made a change.
0:16 Our Ed O'Keefe is tracking it all.
0:18 Ed, you're in Alabama, which could be next to change the map.
0:21 But tell us about Tennessee today.
0:24 Well, Tony, Tennessee Democrats could do little more than protest the move,
0:28 and they did that, standing in a line,
0:29 shouting at Republicans as they voted overwhelmingly to drop the states.
0:33 One Democratic congressional seat,
0:35 authorities removed several individuals during the chaos.
0:38 While outside the chamber,
0:40 one state house Democrat burned a copy of the Confederate flag.
0:44 Today's vote means this Democratic district,
0:48 which encompasses the mostly black city of Memphis,
0:50 will be split into three districts designed to favor Republicans.
0:53 The NAACP is now suing to block the change.
0:56 Similar redrawing may soon happen in southern states like Louisiana,
1:00 Mississippi, South Carolina, and here in Alabama.
1:03 All based on last week's Supreme Court ruling
1:06 that narrowed the scope of the Voting Rights Act.
1:08 Tony, Ed, thank you very