Get informed about voting rights
December 10, 2016 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Stephen McIntyre
The November 2016 election was the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act at work to protect the right to vote of black, Latino, Native American, Asian and other voters of color.
Killing mockingbirds in Galveston
July 12, 2015 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Cornelia Banks, Galveston Northside Taskforce, Leon Phillips, Galveston Coalition for Justice, Steve McIntyre and Joe Compian, Gulf Coast Interfaith, Mary Patrick, Galveston Chapter of the NAACP, and Amy Quiroga, LULAC Galveston Council No. 151.
On May 4th, the Galveston Charter Review Committee voted 6-3 to recommend to the city council that it place on the ballot in November a proposal to change the city council election system from 6-1 to 4-2-1. his vote of 6 Anglo males versus 2 African-American males and 1 Anglo female as cast 46 days before Juneteenth. he heartbreaking irony surrounding what was happening in Galveston on the eve of our Juneteenth celebration has forced us to continue speaking out.
Loss of voting rights proposed 46 days before Juneteenth
June 4, 2015 – The Galveston County Daily News – By CORNELIA BANKS, LEON PHILLIPS, STEVE MCINTYRE, JOE COMPIAN, MARY PATRICK & AMY QUIROGA
Very soon many people in America will be celebrating Juneteenth and the symbolic end of slavery in America 150 years ago in Galveston. Some of you may be aware the City Council appointed Charter Review Committee voted on May 4th to propose the city charter be changed from a 6-1 single member district election system to a 4-2-1 hybrid at-large system in Galveston. This is similar to what happened in Pasadena last year and is now in federal court.
Supreme Court decision prompts Houston area redistricting fights
August 23, 2013 – The Houston Chronicle – By Cindy Horswell (Harvey Rice contributed to this story)
The ad hoc group, which includes representatives of the NAACP and others, sent a letter Thursday to the city of Galveston’s attorney aslo questioning the wisdom of the city seeking to make a change by having two concil seats elected city-wide, rather than coming from individual districts.
Commissioners approve new redistricting map
March 23, 2012 – The Galveston County Daily News – By T.J. Aulds
A split commissioners court approved a new redistricting map Thursday that appears to have garnered the favor of federal officials.
Another redistricting map set for DOJ
March 22, 2012 – The Galveston County Daily News – By T.J. Aulds
County commissioners today will once again try to approve a redistricting map that the U.S. Department of Justice will accept.
A Cleaner Simpler District Map
March 18, 2012 – The Galveston County Daily News – Editorials – By Heber Taylor
If you want to see what’s wrong with the county’s plan for drawing new district lines for county commissioners all you have to do is look at an alternate plan drawn by Gulf Coast Interfaith.
Justice rejects Galveston election plan
October 4, 2011 – The Houston Chronicle – By Harvey Rice
The U.S. Justice Department has rejected a Galveston plan to return to a political system that the department had twice rejected as diluting minority voting.
A good question about redistricting
May 31, 2011 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Heber Taylor
Two groups – Gulf Coast Interfaith and the League of United Latin American Citizens – are looking at the maps proposing new districts for members of the Galveston school board.
Galveston GISD Map Under Review
May 30, 2011 – The Daily News/KHOU.com – By Amanda Cassanova
Despite being approved by the school board of trustees, a redistricting plan will be studied by two local organizations before the map is sent to the department of justice next week.
Civil rights groups oppose Isle at-large council plan
May 27, 2011 – The Houston Chronicle – By Harvey Rice
Four civil rights groups Friday opposed Galveston’s efforts to return to a political system that the U.S. Justice Department twice has rejected as diluting minority voting influence.
GISD delays approving redistricting plan
May 20, 2011 – The Galveston County Daily News – By Amanda Casanova
Galveston Independent School District trustees are holding off on approving a redistricting plan at the request of organizations that want more time to study the new plan. “Give us a bit more time to study it and then collectively we can come back with our observations” Joe Compian of Gulf Coast Interfaith said.
Gulf Coast Interfaith 