In December, the ACLU of Missouri filed a federal lawsuit against the Ferguson-Florissant School District, on behalf of the Missouri NAACP and African-American residents, charging that the district's electoral system locked African-Americans out of the political process through the at-large system that dilutes African-American voting strength.
“The ongoing effects of racial discrimination have long plagued the region, and the District in particular, have affected the ability of African Americans to participate equally in the political process,” wrote U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel in the decision.
African-Americans constitute a minority of the district’s voting age population, and under the at-large system they were systematically unable to elect candidates of their choice. Today’s decision demonstrates that the at-large arrangement has a discriminatory effect on African-American voters.
"This case is about African-American communities being able to hold their government accountable,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri. “Today’s decision will lead to future school boards that are responsive to the needs of the community.”
“The importance of ensuring fair elections for all Americans cannot be overstated. The NAACP, in conjunction with the ACLU, has worked tirelessly to ensure that the rights of all citizens are protected,” said Missouri State Conference of the NAACP President Nimrod Chapel. “We are proud of the result in this case.”
The Ferguson-Florissant School District has a history fraught with discrimination against African-American citizens. The district, which spans several municipalities, was created by a 1975 desegregation order intended to remedy the effects of discrimination against African-American students. Yet, 40 years later, there was just one African-American member on the seven-member board in a district where African-Americans constitute 77 percent of the student body. Since the filing of this case, another African-American school board member was elected. There are currently two African-Americans serving on the board.