by Wayne Dawkins
HAMPTON, Virginia — U. S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, D-Virginia, has implored Hampton University graduates to immediately engage in politics because of recent erosions of voting rights and educational opportunity.
“No one is going to give us the ballot; we have to fight for it,” said Scott, who represents the Third Congressional District that includes Hampton and Norfolk State universities, both HBCUs in Virginia. “Now we have to make voting rights an election issue.
Scott, ranking [aka minority] member of the House Education and Workforce committee, referenced the Trump Administration push to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, and last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that congressional redistricting cannot account for racial representation, however, districts can be gerrymandered for political advantage.
“Six Supreme Court justices [out of nine] outdid themselves,” said Scott to the 890 graduates plus a near-capacity Hampton Coliseum crowd of families and friends. “This ranks among the three worst court decisions in history. This, Dred Scott, and Plessy vs. Fergusion.”
As the Congressman spoke at the May 8 graduation, Tennessee’s GOP-majority state legislature raced days after the high court ruling to redraw congressional boundaries and break up a Black-majority congressional district that included the city of Memphis into parts of three Republican-majority districts. Meanwhile, also on May 8, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democratic congressional redistricting plan that had been voter approved.
The Virginia Supreme Court did not say the vote itself was wrong. It ruled that Virginia’s Democratic-led legislature violated state constitutional and state law requirements mainly in its timing of placing the constitutional amendment on the ballot. The court rulings comes amidst a nationwide struggle between Republicans and Democrats to win control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections.
Scott also encouraged the students to get involved in politics for the sake of HBCU educational funding. He said when he was chairman of the Education committee he fought for investment in “underfunded” HBCUs, but under current GOP control, support has been cut.
Now, said Scott, it was urgent that the newly minted graduates join the fight for voting power and educational opportunity:
“Use your votes. Support candidates who believe in voting rights. Vote out politicians who supported the ‘Big Ugly Law.’,” said Scott. “Hampton graduates like Mary Jackson and Christine Darden were Hidden Figures’ who became barrier breakers.
“Stay strong, stay involved. Follow the news, attend city council meetings, and even run for office. Stay informed. Stay engaged. We can’t fix everything, but if we do nothing, we won’t fix anything.”
