Jim Crow laws apparently still exists in some forms in Alabama. State officials are finding ways to suppress the Black vote by implementing voter ID laws and closing driver’s license facilities that cater to majority Black residents.
According to Al.com, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency recently decided to close 31 driver’s licensing centers in 15 counties. Twelve of the 15 counties are majority Black and were strongholds for President Obama in the 2012 election.
The closing of the ID centers comes after Alabama lawmakers implemented a law that required citizens to have a government ID to vote. However, Alabama officials claim the closings occurred to save the state money after it endured a budget crisis. But if that was truly the case, there would have been an equal amount of closings in counties that are majority white.
At this point, the U.S. Justice Department must take a strong look at Alabama and investigate overt attempts to suppress the Black vote. In a state that recently welcomed President Obama who helped to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Selma march to Montgomery, it proves that not much has not changed since 1965.
