Tennessee's Republican-dominated legislature and governor have approved a new congressional map ahead of the US midterms, carving up the state's only Black majority district. The move is part of a nationwide push to redraw districts for partisan advantage.

The new map splits the state's only Democrat-held House district, centered on the majority-Black city of Memphis. Black voters have historically leaned heavily Democratic. Opposing legislators said the map was intentionally drawn to dilute Black voting power across Tennessee's nine congressional districts.

State Representative Justin Pearson, a Democrat, called the maps "racist tools of white supremacy." Protesters held banners denouncing the redistricting as a "Jim Crow" effort, referencing the segregationist laws of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton maintained the new districts were based on population and politics, not racial data. Republican state Senator John Stevens admitted the bill represents "Tennessee's attempt to maximize our partisan advantage."

The redistricting spree accelerated after the US Supreme Court last week struck down a key provision of the 1973 Voting Rights Act that prevented dilution of minority voting power. The ruling makes it harder to challenge discriminatory maps.

Several states including Texas, Missouri, California, Utah, Ohio, North Carolina, and Virginia have already redrawn their maps. Louisiana and Alabama are also pursuing redistricting. Republicans have netted more seats than Democrats so far, tightening the battle for control of the House.

Source: www.aljazeera.com