Ali Alexander, the founding father of far-right conspiracy motion Cease the Steal, claimed Saturday that the gerrymandering of districts is each "not actual" and "completely authorized whether it is actual."
Alexander posted the message on his Telegram—an on the spot messaging service typically utilized by far-right and radical teams to prepare all through america. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has beforehand referred to Telegram as a "protected haven" for right-wing extremism.
Alexander, who has just below 19,000 followers on Telegram, concluded the brief message by merely stating: "Suck it!" By Monday, the message had been considered on the platform a reported 2,500 occasions.
On his Telegram profile web page, Alexander states that he "uncovered the extent to which the Deep State has compromised free and honest elections."
Regardless of Alexander's declare that the apply of gerrymandering would not exist, New York College College of Regulation's Brennan Middle for Justice famous final yr that "the apply has been a thorn within the aspect of democracy for hundreds of years, and with the brand new spherical of redistricting it is a greater risk than ever."
The method of particularly manipulating the boundaries of voting districts with a purpose to give one political get together a aggressive benefit, gerrymandering has an extended historical past of use in america.
Whereas the Brennan Middle famous that Republicans had been the "main beneficiaries" of gerrymandering within the 2010s, the apply has additionally been used on a smaller scale by the Democratic Social gathering.
"No matter which get together is liable for gerrymandering, it's in the end the general public who loses out," the Brennan Middle added.
Reformers have lengthy pushed for federal laws that will assist finish gerrymandering. The latest effort was seen as a part of the proposed Freedom to Vote Act, which did not cross within the U.S. Senate.
Students observe that as gerrymandering efforts proceed the apply has begun to adversely have an effect on minorities resulting from latest demographic adjustments. "The Supreme Courtroom has not granted these multiracial coalition districts the identical authorized protections as majority-minority districts, making them a key goal for dismantling by partisan map drawers," the Brennan Middle added.
Alexander's declare concerning gerrymandering is one in all various conspiracy theories which were touted by the Forth Value, Texas-raised activist.
This consists of baseless claims towards various liberal politicians, equivalent to Consultant Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Vice President Kamala Harris. He has additionally referred to Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as a "Marxist" on social media.
Alexander is most well-known, nonetheless, for being one of many principal organizers of the Cease the Steal motion, which promotes the disproven conspiracy principle that former President Donald Trump misplaced the 2020 election because of nationwide voter fraud.
This motion has develop into tied to the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol constructing. Main as much as the assault, shops together with The Guardian and ProPublica recognized Alexander's actions as having incited violence.
The Guardian later reported that Alexander led the gang exterior the Capitol in chants of "victory or loss of life!"
The Home Choose Committee on the January 6 Assault subpoenaed Alexander this previous October requesting that he testify.
Further right-wing conspiracy theorists have been carefully related to Alexander, together with InfoWars' Alex Jones and conspiracy activist Laura Loomer.
Newsweek has reached out to Alexander's legal professional for remark.
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