In August the Census Bureau released data based on the 2020 Census. The U.S. Census Bureau provides all 50 states population counts to use in their redrawing of congressional and state legislative district boundaries. This process of redistricting is not an optional or suggested process, but rather a legally mandated one that advocates have come together to urge California Redistricting Commissions to adhere to. Dolores Huerta Foundation Executive Director, Camila Chavez stated, “The recently released census data confirms what we’ve known to be the case for years. Our communities are increasingly made up of a rich diversity of constituents and the majority of current elected officials representing them simply are not reflective of the communities they are responsible for representing. The redistricting process as required by law, is one that should result in equitable representation and that’s exactly what our communities are working for.”
Community and labor groups have joined together in the Central Valley to ensure a fair and equitable map is adopted by the County Board of Supervisors for Redistricting. This process began in January of 2021 and included the voices of hundreds of community members. All County Board of Supervisors redistricted maps must adhere to the Federal Fair Maps Act, include community input, and consider communities of interest. DHF in solidarity with our partners, is demanding that counties in our region adhere to the redistricting process and adopt the map submitted by EMC, which is supported by community member input. We are urging officials to respect and acknowledge the NEW data for each district and stop their efforts to silence the voices of communities of color.
On Thursday, December 2, 2021 The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 521, Central California Coalition for Equitable Redistricting (CCCER), Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN), Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment (CRPE) Central Valley Leadership Round Table (CVLRT), and Central Valley Partnership will be hosting a press conference on at 11:00 am at Liberty Bell (In front of the Kern County Superior Court), urging Kern County to adhere to the redistricting criteria and ensure that community voices are heard.
Additionally, we invite the public to “March for Our Future” on Saturday, December 4, 2021 as we continue our fight for fair maps at a state level in the Central Valley. Dozens of community groups and allies from Kern, Tulare, Kings, Antelope Valley and Fresno counties will come together to demand fair maps, improved public services, and more COVID rescue funds for our Central Valley communities. We will begin at 11:00 am in front of Arte Americas, 1630 Van ness Ave., Fresno and end with a rally at Courthouse Park, Courthouse Park 1100 Van Ness Ave., Fresno at 12:00 pm. Our future depends on fair lines, fair funding and fair treatment for all. For more information about the Redistricting March, “March for Our Future,” please call (559) 420-0648 for more information. Learn more about the Dolores Huerta Foundation at www.doloreshuerta.org.
