Historic settlement requires the city to place a charter amendment on the November 2025 ballot for voter approval
MIAMI, FL (July 1, 2024) — Today, a federal court resolved a lawsuit concerning racial gerrymandering in the City of Miami. U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore approved a settlement agreement between the City and the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who are community members and organizations advocating for fair maps. This ends a three-year journey in which the court struck down the City Commission’s racially gerrymandered maps as unconstitutional.
Under the agreement, the City will adopt a map drawn by the plaintiffs – Plaintiffs’ Map 5 or “P5” – which unifies neighborhoods across the city, including Coconut Grove, Overtown, Allapattah, and Edgewater. These neighborhoods were divided along racial lines by the City but will now remain intact, as residents advocated during multiple City Commission hearings during the redistricting process.
“This settlement marks a pivotal moment for the City of Miami, one that heralds a new era of fair and just representation,” said Nicholas Warren, staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida. “By adopting the Plaintiffs’ map, we are dismantling the barriers of racial gerrymandering and building a foundation for a more inclusive society. This victory is a testament to the resilience and power of community voices united in the pursuit of equity. We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the residents and organizations who fought to champion this cause,”
The agreement conclusively resolves the litigation in GRACE, Inc. v. City of Miami, which challenged the Miami City Commission’s maps for unconstitutionally dividing neighborhoods along racial lines and undermining fair representation. The case was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) of Florida and Dechert LLP on behalf of local organizations Grove Rights and Community Equity (GRACE), Engage Miami, the Miami-Dade and South Dade NAACP Branches, and five individual residents.
“Today’s settlement is a monumental victory for the people of Miami and a resounding affirmation of the principles of fairness and equality. By ensuring our neighborhoods remain intact and our voices are heard, we are paving the way for a future where democracy truly represents us all. This agreement not only rectifies past injustices but also sets a precedent for transparency and equity in all future redistricting efforts. We stand proudly with our community, celebrating this hard-fought win for justice and the enduring strength of our collective resolve,” said Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida.
The charter amendment would ban gerrymandering that favors particular candidates and incumbents and create a Citizens’ Redistricting Committee to draft and submit maps to the Commission in all future redistricting cycles.
The P5 map can be viewed here and on Google Maps at this link.
