Citizens called on Georgia legislators to make fairness and transparency the priorities in redistricting the state.
Members of the Georgia House and Senate Reapportionment Committees have wrapped up a week-long series of town hall meetings.
Although the July 30 meeting was virtual, residents were able to sign up to speak to the committee.
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Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, said the state’s strength is its diversity. “More than 45% of voting age Georgians identify as Black, Hispanic or Asian-Americans,” she said. “We urge you during this process to be transparent. We urge you to draw maps that ensure black Americans, Asian-Americans and Hispanic Americans have the same opportunity to elect candidates of their choice as white Americans do.”
Milton resident Navina Does said, “I’m here to ask for fair redistricting. For all maps to accurately reflect the diversity of our state and for all officials to provide the criteria used to draw maps and give the public ample opportunity to provide feedback before decisions are made.”
Still ahead for the committee is one final meeting, scheduled for August 30 in Augusta. The meeting was originally scheduled for July 7 but was postponed because of the threat of severe weather.
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The meeting will be at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Speaking Thursday night, Pichaya Poy Winichakul, a staff attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center, said there are concerns about that location.
“Community members have raised concerns that the pathway from the parking lot into the venue presents difficulties for those with an ambulatory disability. Moreover, the venue is not on a bus line and there are limited transportation options to attend the hearing.”
She said a petition was submitted to the committee recommending two alternative locations, Augusta University’s Maxwell Theater on Walton Way or Augusta Technical College’s Information Technology Center on Augusta Tech Drive.
MORE: Georgia Redistricting Hearings Drawing to a Close
The Augusta meeting is from 5 to 7 p.m.
Members of the public who wish to speak can sign up starting at 4:30 p.m. outside the meeting location. Speakers are asked to keep their comments to between two and five minutes.
Citizens can also submit written comments here.
The hearing will be livestreamed at: https://www.legis.ga.gov/ and videos of each hearing are available there, as well.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
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