Rep. Ed Blackmon (D - Canton) begins his speech by saying that he's convinced this won't be the last time the House handles this redistricting effort. He talks about why districts were packed in the past versus why they are packed now. In the past, packing was done to ensure that at least some blacks would be elected to office. Now it's done to make sure the number of blacks elected is kept low.
Blackmon says because we (Mississippians) are who we are, and because we did what we did, we have to answer to the federal government. He goes on to say that there is no need to have 75% or higher black districts in an area such as Jackson any longer. Says that keeps blacks from influencing other districts. Goes on to say that the federal government isn't going to stand for a map that squeezes blacks into districts "like sardines."
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