“This is a day in history:” Black advocacy groups, voters file lawsuit challenging voting discrimination in Wicomico County

SALISBURY, Md. – “We are demanding equity. We’re demanding justice. We are demanding fairness. We are demanding the seats that we deserve,” Brooks said.

The Wicomico County NAACP, several advocacy groups, and black voters held a press conference Thursday to take a stand. They announced their intent to file a federal lawsuit against the County Council and Board of Education’s election system’s at-large component. “I too ran for office, and I was considering running in the at-large space. I realized I would not have a chance in hell to get into that particular position,” Wicomico County NAACP President Monica Brooks said.

The ACLU of Maryland will act as representing council. Attorney Nick Steiner said they’re requiring both the county council and school board to create a fair system that abides by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That landmark piece of legislation was enact back during the civil rights era and prohibits racial discrimination in voting. “There are issues that the black community faces that is going unaddressed by the county council and by the board of education and having another black voice on those two government bodies is absolutely necessary,” Steiner said.

Steiner added that the current election process pushes the black community’s vote to only a single district, leaving them with at most one elected representative. “That is unlawful under the voting rights act, especially in the county where the people of color population are about 40%,” he said.

Looking towards the future, plaintiffs at the press conference said they aren’t just speaking up for themselves but also for the youth. “I don’t want young people give up because I’m not giving up. You pivot. You don’t get tired of the discrimination, and you don’t get tired of everything and just give up. You make sure you keep fighting. This is a history day. This is a day in history,” Wicomico County Voter Amber Green said.

Wicomico County Council President John Cannon tells us the council was completely taken by surprise with the news stating they haven’t been made aware of any issues or concerns.

We’ve also reached out to the board of education for comment and did not hear back.

To find out more information about the lawsuit click here