Brooke Thornton

For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thornton in Baton Rouge.

After heated debate and opposition from members of the public, a state Senate committee advanced a redistricting plan that could help Republicans flip a House seat now represented by a Democrat.

Under the plan, the state would have five Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic one.

Democratic State Senator Royce DePlessis opposed it.

The bill's author said he wanted to give Republicans an advantage in the midterms.

Governor Jeff Landry suspended House primaries after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act.

The plan goes before the full Senate on Thursday and the House next.

For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thornton in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Amid chanting and protest in the halls of the Capitol, Democratic Representative Denise Marcell urged committee members not to vote along party lines, but to pass a map that's representative of the state and includes two majority black congressional districts.

Lawmakers are expected to vote on maps that include one with all Republican districts, a map with one black majority district, and another with two black majority districts.

For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thornton in Baton Rouge.

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

Amid chanting and protest in the halls of the Capitol, Democratic Representative Denise Marcell urged committee members not to vote along party lines, but to pass a map that's representative of the state and includes two majority black congressional districts.

Lawmakers are expected to vote on maps that include one with all Republican districts, a map with one black majority district, and another with two black majority districts.

For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thornton in Baton Rouge.

Bonnie Byland serves on the leadership board for Indivisible Baton Rouge, a group that holds weekly protests against the Trump administration.

She says what happened in Minneapolis was the tipping point for many.

They're realizing that it's time to stand up.

They can't take it anymore.

Mamie Broadhurst, the pastor at University Presbyterian Church, encouraged attendees to stay positive.