Who Gets a Voice? The Impact of Section 2 of the VRA on Multiracial Democracy

LatinoJustice PRLDEF President & General Counsel Lourdes Rosado joins legal experts from MALDEF, the Brennan Center for Justice, and Organized Power in Numbers (OPIN) to answer a critical question: what happens to Latino voting rights after Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is gutted? Moderated by journalist Patricia Guadalupe, this webinar breaks down the real impact of Louisiana v. Callais on multiracial democracy and what advocates are doing about it. Presented by Unseen and the Latino Media Collaborative, with opening remarks by Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, Publisher of the San Fernando Valley Sun/El Sol. Panelists: Lourdes Rosado – President & General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF Andrea Senteno – Regional Counsel, MALDEF Celina Avalos Jaramillo – Advocacy Campaign Strategist, NYU Brennan Center for Justice Claudia Magaña – National Campaigns Director, Organized Power in Numbers (OPIN) Moderator: Patricia Guadalupe, Journalist & Adjunct Professor, American University #VotingRights #VRA #LatinoVote #MultiracialDemocracy #WhoGetsAVoice --- 0:00 Opening Remarks – Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, San Fernando Valley Sun 2:34 Introduction – Moderator Patricia Guadalupe 4:56 Panelist Introductions 8:58 Background: The Voting Rights Act & Louisiana v. Callais 12:51 How Callais Erodes Section 2 & Immediate Impact on Maps 25:55 MALDEF's Strategy to Protect Latino Political Power 30:54 Legislative Path Forward: John Lewis VRA & Freedom to Vote Act 34:32 Citizens United & Money in Politics — Connection to Callais 38:42 Restrictive Voting Laws: 300+ Bills in 41 States in 2026 40:38 Community Organizing in the South & Southwest 50:47 Q&A: Building Multiracial Coalition Power 52:21 Q&A: Distrust in the System — Why Keep Fighting? 54:53 Lightning Round: One Thing to Do Before the Midterms 58:41 Closing Remarks