Race and Civil Rights

August 8, 2013 - The broad election changes bill passed by the North Carolina legislature and awaiting the governor's signature has a number of provisions worrying to voting rights advocates. But among the most troubling are those that expand the powers of poll observers and election challengers, whose efforts take place in the context of the state's struggles with racism.

August 6, 2013 - The U.S. Supreme Court decision gutting the Voting Rights Act was a serious blow to racial justice, but Americans are rallying to protect civil rights from attack and keeping the spirit of the landmark law alive.

August 1, 2013 - A federal trial about to get underway over the drawing of district lines for judges in Baton Rouge, La. could determine how the Voting Rights Act will be applied in the wake of the Supreme Court's recent decision throwing out a key part of the landmark civil rights law.

July 30, 2013 - The NAACP is asking the state supreme court to throw out political district lines that it says were improperly shaped by race -- and it's willing to take the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

July 26, 2013 - The U.S. Supreme Court may have struck down one provision of the Voting Rights Act, but the Department of Justice is turning to another to sue Texas over its discriminatory redistricting law.

July 26, 2013 - The Republican-controlled N.C. legislature has passed the nation's most restrictive voting bill, but voters are fighting back -- and may get help from the U.S. Justice Department.

July 25, 2013 - North Carolina lawmakers are poised to pass the harshest voter photo ID law in the nation -- an effort that's been met with protests from voting rights advocates and talk of a possible lawsuit by the federal government.