FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council Communications
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303 

April 30, 2026

Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond Decries SCOTUS’ Decision to Weaken Voting Rights Act of 1965

ATLANTA — Post 1 At-Large Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond issues the following statement following the Supreme Court of the United States decision to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in the case of Louisiana v. Callais on Wednesday, April 29:

“I strongly condemn yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. According to reporting, this ruling significantly raises the legal bar for proving racial vote dilution and limits one of the last remaining tools communities have used to challenge discriminatory voting practices in court. This strikes at the very heart of protections that generations of Americans fought to secure, including my late father, State Sen. Julian Bond, who stood alongside leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to ensure that the promise of democracy extended to all people, not just a few. Section 2 has long been a critical safeguard, particularly after other parts of the Voting Rights Act were weakened, and today’s decision further erodes that foundation. They did not march, organize and sacrifice so that these hard-won gains could be dismantled piece by piece. In a city like Atlanta—the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, we understand that access to the ballot is directly tied to representation, opportunity, and justice. This decision is not just disappointing, it is dangerous. It opens the door to policies and practices that can dilute the voices of communities of color and undermine confidence in our electoral system. I remain committed to ensuring that every voice is protected, every vote is counted, and that we continue the work my father and so many others began to strengthen, not weaken American democracy.”

Michael Julian Bond
Atlanta City Council
Post 1 At-Large

About Atlanta City Council

The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the City of Atlanta. It acts by considering and enacting all laws that govern the city. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City as recommended by the mayor, and it continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The Atlanta City Council reviews and decides on many land use and zoning matters. Major economic development projects for the City also fall under the Council’s jurisdiction.

The City Council is composed of 12 districts and three at-large posts. Council representatives are Council President: Marci Collier Overstreet; District 1: Jason Winston; District 2: Kelsea Bond; District 3: Byron Amos; District 4: Jason S. Dozier; District 5: Liliana Bakhtiari; District 6: Alex Wan; District 7: Thomas Worthy; District 8: Mary Norwood; District 9: Dustin Hillis; District 10: Andrea L. Boone; District 11: Wayne Martin; District 12: Antonio Lewis; Post 1 At-Large: Michael Julian Bond; Post 2 At-Large: Matt Westmoreland; and Post 3 At-Large: Eshé Collins.

To learn more about the Atlanta City Council, please visit http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/. For the latest updates, follow the Atlanta City Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Office of Council Communications Contacts:

William Doughty
wdoughty@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6056

Tiffanie Kelly
trkelly@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6014