The Black caucus of the Alabama Democratic Party intends to file an objection to the three redistricting plans proposed by a special master and present its own map to the three-judge court presiding over the case, the group’s chairman said Tuesday.

While Alabama Democratic Conference Chairman Joe Reed said the caucus was pleased the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Alabama’s request for an emergency stay on the ruling by the three-judge court, which found the map approved by the Legislature in July likely violates the Voting Right Act, the group believes its own plan makes it more viable for Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice.

“I’m very glad that the United States Supreme Court, without dissent, turned down Alabama’s request to stay the order. That sent a message to the court, the lower court here as well,” he said.

The three-judge court has found that a second majority-Black congressional “or something quite close to it” should be drawn for Alabama, but the state Legislature’s plan did not follow that guidance, which led to the special master being appointed.

“It’s so unfortunate that the state of Alabama just simply was not doing right by Black people,” Reed told reporters Tuesday in Montgomery.

“We’re still doing the same old thing and that is defying, ‘we’re gonna show [Black people], we’re gonna teach them a lesson. We’re gonna let them who’s boss.’” Reed continued. “Well, one thing we all ought to know by now, that nobody can beat the court system as long as this country has a court system. The day when somebody can defeat our court system, that’ll be the day our democracy will fall.”

Still, Reed said, the three proposed maps from the special master are insufficient.

“It falls short of the Constitution and it falls short of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act,” he said, adding that the ADC-endorsed plan includes a 54 percent majority Black district with more than 100,000 Black voters in Mobile County in a new Second Congressional District.

“We’re confident that the Alabama Democratic Conference plan is the best plan on the market,” the ADC chairman said. “And that’s because that’s the plan where a Black [person] can win a congressional seat. …We have a chance now to get a congressperson that is Black folks’ choice. It doesn’t have to be Black, it could be Black or white, but in all likelihood there will be enough Blacks running that it’ll be a Black out there facing the voters.”

Reed said the conference does not yet have a preference as to who should run in that district, pointing out that the court has not yet approved a map.

“We’re going to be trying to get somebody that can run, that can be elected, that will represent everybody when that day comes,” he said.