The Silent Slaughter of Local Power The recent Louisiana v. Callais decision by the Supreme Court has sparked warnings about its impact on federal and state elections. Former Representative G. K. Butterfield Jr.
's dire assessment, likening it to a "five alarm fire," is echoed in political circles. However, another consequence of this ruling is receiving less attention: the quiet erosion of local power.
A close look at Wilson, North Carolina, where George K. Butterfield Sr. , G. K. Jr. 's father, made history as one of the first Black elected officials in the region, reveals a disturbing pattern.