Federal court approves settlement in City of Miami racial gerrymandering lawsuit

A federal court Monday approved a settlement between the City of Miami and local activist groups in a racial gerrymandering lawsuit that includes a new voting map and a charter amendment.

The ACLU of Florida announced in a news release that U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore approved the settlement.

The city was originally sued by local activist groups and the ACLU of Florida for racial gerrymandering — a tactic in which voting maps are used to reduce the voice of certain demographics — after new district lines were approved by city commissioners.