A woman protests outside the House chamber before a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A member of the Senate Sgt.-at-Arms, right, pulls a banner out of the hands of Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashille, as she protests the redrawing of U.S. Congressional voting maps during a special session of the state legislature Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
State troopers remove people from the House gallery during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
KeShaun Pearson is arrested and removed from the House gallery by state troopers during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, blows an air horn on the House floor during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, second from left, walks with his brother KeShaun Pearson, as he is arrested and removed from the House gallery during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Jamiah Irby is removed by a state trooper from a Senate committee meeting during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Democratic state Sen. Vivian Figures speaks on SB 1, a redistricting bill, during a special session of the Alabama Legislature, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Representatives speak on the House floor during a special session of the Alabama Legislature, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Democratic Alabama State Rep. Juandalynn Givan stands on the House floor after the body voted on HB 1, a redistricting bill, during a special session of the Alabama Legislature, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Protesters shut down a Senate committee meeting during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, taunts protesters as he leaves the Senate chamber after a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps, in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Deonte Williams stands outside a House committee hearing room after it was cleared by state trooper during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A person holds a sign during news conference before a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Democratic Rep. Christopher England speaks to people as the House debates HB 1, a redistricting bill, during a special session of the Alabama Legislature, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
State troopers clear a House committee meeting after it was disrupted by protesters during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Mike Croley yells at lawmakers in a Senate committee meeting during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, center, marches with protesters before a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps, in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A woman protests against a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Demonstrators protest in the Senate hallway in response to HB1 and SB1, redistricting bills, during a special session of the Alabama Legislature, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Republican state Rep. Chris Pringle, center, speaks to a colleague on the House floor during a special session of the Alabama Legislature, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, smiles after a House committee meeting during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., walks in the hallway at the Alabama State House during a special session of the Alabama Legislature, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, watches a Senate Judiciary committee meeting on his phone outside the hearing room during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, center, speaks on the floor of the Senate chamber with other Democrat senators by her side during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps, in Nashville, Tenn. , Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., of Memphis, sits at before a Senate Judiciary committee after testifying during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Audio By Carbonatix
6:41 PM on Wednesday, May 6
By MIKE STEWART and GEORGE WALKER IV
Republicans across several Southern states moved forward with redistricting efforts ahead of the midterm elections, despite protests and fierce opposition from Democrats and civil rights advocates. Lawmakers in Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina debated plans that could reshape majority-Black congressional districts following a recent United States Supreme Court ruling on congressional redistricting.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
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