Alabama voters approve a ballot measure which would amend the state’s 119-year old constitution to remove racist language in the document.
What We Know:
- On Tuesday, voters in Alabama were called to vote on Amendment 4 which would repeal racist language from the text written in 1901. Much of the racist language in the state’s constitution exists in sections regarding segregation in schools, banning interracial marriage, and poll taxes. Although these Jim Crow-era provisions are not longer legal in Alabama, the language still remains in the document despite similar amendments being on the ballot for the past 20 years, according to AP.
- Due to Alabama’s trend of voting in opposition of similar amendments, Amendment 4 purposely mentioned nothing about race or racism, rather, it states that it would allow the Legislature to “recompile the Alabama Constitution and submit it during the 2022 Regular Session, and provide a process for its ratification by the voters”. This seemed to have worked because no organized opposition was encountered days before it was to be voted on.
- Of more than 1 million voters, 67% voted in favor of the amendment. This result coincides with the true intent of the amendment, which is to reflect Alabama’s progress on social and racial issues that were once notoriously depictive of the state. One of the sponsors of the bipartisan legislation, Rep. Merika Coleman stated to WBRC, “We recognize there has been some systemic racism […] I think that we could be a leader around this nation about what we’re going to do in the state of Alabama to show that we believe that all people are equal in our state.”
- Alabama’s effort towards social justice is among a few other ballot measures in Utah and Nebraska that aim to remove racist vernacular from their respective constitutions. On the same note, Mississippi voters approved a new state flag that would remove the confederate flag and replace it with “In God We Trust”.
As the election slowly continues on to Friday, it is important to acknowledge small victories like these to not only remind us that we are heading in a more equal and just direction, but to also help restore the public’s faith in the democratic process.
