On Monday morning, May 4th, at 8:00 am, organizations, including Voice of the Experienced, Power Coalition, StepUp Louisiana, Black Voters Matter, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and individuals across Louisiana will hold a funeral march to commemorate the death of democracy. The march comes amid a series of recent decisions and legislative actions impacting elections, voting rights, and elected offices across Louisiana.
On the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Callais v. Louisiana, Governor Landry postponed party primaries for U.S. Congressional House seats as they anticipate crafting a new map prior to November elections. The party primaries were a recent change, pushed by Gov. Landry and Secretary of State Nancy Landry, but have since become a major failure, causing voter confusion, and costing the state millions of dollars. A bill heard Wednesday (SB 49) would remove the state Board of Education from the closed party primary system.
The districts drawn by Governor Landry and the Republican legislature were deemed by the U.S. Supreme Court to be crafted on a racial basis, despite public statements about protecting incumbent Republican seats. The Voting Rights Act served as a protection against the most egregious actions by state governments to suppress minority votes, but racial protections are gone.
On May 4, Calvin Duncan, duly elected Criminal Court Clerk, and Chief Elections Officer for New Orleans, by 68% of voters, was set to assume office until SB 256 was passed. It is expected to be signed by the Governor on May 1. This is part of a larger effort (such as SB 425, being heard Wednesday) that make it easier to remove elected officials for “malfeasance” through legislative action under the direction of the Governor. Bills to eliminate New Orleans judgeships (SB 197; SB 217) are pending on the House Floor, and likely to be heard this week.
Governor Jeff Landry, Secretary of State Nancy Landry, and Attorney General Liz Murrill are all set to receive an $80,000 pay raise, under HB 1201, being heard Tuesday at the Capitol. The same Appropriations hearing includes another $10,000 pay raise for all 666 prosecutors across Louisiana (HB 660) and add an additional 80 more prosecutors. A bill to criminalize homelessness (HB 211) with up to 6 months in jail is on its way to passage.
Louisiana leads the world with incarceration, having over 100 locations of detention and serving as a key state in immigration detention. Gov. Landry recently eliminated parole and expanded the prison budgets. People across the state continue to complain about the low wages, high rents, toxic environment, corporate welfare, and homeowners’ insurance crisis.
WHO:
Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), Power Coalition, StepUp Louisiana, Black Voters Matter, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and concerned residents across the state of Louisiana
Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), Power Coalition, StepUp Louisiana, Black Voters Matter, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and concerned residents across the state of Louisiana
WHAT:
Funeral March for Democracy
Funeral March for Democracy
WHEN:
Monday, May 4, 2026 | 8am
Monday, May 4, 2026 | 8am
WHERE:
New Orleans, Louisiana (Courthouse to City Hall)
New Orleans, Louisiana (Courthouse to City Hall)
