In response to sweeping personnel changes and a controversial redirection of priorities within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Councilmember Carmalitha (CAR-MA-LEETH-A) Gumbs announced today that she will introduce a formal resolution at tomorrow’s City Council meeting (Tuesday evening) affirming the City of South Fulton’s support for voting rights and civil protections.
The resolution specifically calls out the actions of Harmeet Dhillon, the new chief of the DOJ Civil Rights Division, who has reportedly directed the Division to abandon enforcement of voting rights laws in favor of politically motivated efforts such as prosecuting alleged voter fraud and pursuing culture war grievances. Reports also indicate that over 100 attorneys are resigning from the Division in protest.
“All politics is local,” said Councilmember Gumbs. “When the federal government fails to defend the civil rights of the people, we must respond at the local level. City councils like ours are the closest level of government to the people—we see the impact firsthand when rights are stripped away. Here in South Fulton, our Council represents more than 100,000 citizens in Georgia’s seventh-largest city. If Washington won’t protect voting rights, that movement to restore them must start right here at home and in local communities across the country.”
The resolution urges residents to contact their state and federal representatives to demand accountability and action and calls upon the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse course immediately.
Councilmember Gumbs’ resolution will be formally introduced at the regular meeting of the South Fulton City Council tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
