KCET's "DIVIDE AND CONQUER" EXPLAINS GERRYMANDERING, WITH LOS ANGELES AND KERN COUNTY AS THEIR STORY BYLINES

Kern County Sheriffs during UFW-led labor standoff.

Los Angeles' KCET does an excellent job in "Divide and Conquer" explaining how gerrymandering works, and why it has historically disenfranchised Latino voters in California. Using the histories of Los Angeles County in the 20th century and then Kern County in the 21st century, we see how redistricting is not a fluid process, and why fighting for your rights doesn't simply mean voting. You have to be active and use the courts to gain both access and electoral legitimacy in America.

In the clip below, while MALDEF and the Dolores Huerta Foundation are recognized, Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez comes across as a real champion.

For those of you who want to know more, I wrote about Judge Drozd's decision on MALDEF v. Kern County Board of Supervisors case, which you can access by clicking here.

- Mark