The Supreme Court’s attacks on the Voting Rights Act, one of the most effective laws to come out of the civil rights movement, have left voters in the South vulnerable to voter suppression and vote dilution. This year, the Court effectively ended the law’s protections with its ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. But this is not the end of the struggle. Advocates, scholars, and community members are fighting back to protect fair representation and equal political opportunity for generations to come.

Join the Brennan Center for Justice and Fisk University's Partnership for Southern Impact for a full-day conference on the past, present, and future of the fight for voting rights in the South. Discussions will explore the South’s role as a driver for voting rights advancement and strategize for a new era of advocacy.

Thursday, October 8, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:15 AMBreakfast 
10:15 AM - 10:30 AMWelcome and Introduction

Speaker:

  • Kareem Crayton, Brennan Center for Justice
10:30 AM - 11:45 AMThe Meaning and Magnitude of the Voting Rights Act

Speakers:

  • Carol Anderson, Emory University
  • Michael G. Miller, Barnard College
  • Claudia Ruiz, UnidosUS
  • Chrystian Woods, Strategist and Organizer
  • Moderator: Chelsea Jones, Brennan Center for Justice
11:45 AM - 12:45 PMLunch 
12:45 PM - 1:15 PMKeynote

Lucy McBath, U.S. Representative (D-GA)

1:15 PM - 1:25 PMBreak 
1:25 PM - 2:40 PMThe Power of the Press for Progress

Speakers:

  • John Archibald, AL.com
  • Errin Haines, The 19th
  • Garrison Hayes, Mother Jones
  • Moderator: Maya Prabhu, PeachPol
2:40 PM - 2:45 PMClosing Remarks 
2:45 PM - 3:45 PMReception and museum exploration