Following more discussion, the council plans to vote on new, redrawn districts on Tuesday, April 10, the last day they can vote and still send in the plan to the Justice Department.

The redistricting process would also affect Selma’s historic districts, located in Ward 3. Residents of Old Town, Riverview and Ice House areas felt the historic district should not be broken up.

“It’s a significant thing for Selma to have these districts,” said Ward 3 resident Ted Henry. “We have the largest historic district in the state of Alabama. I hate to see us lose that. It’s important for Selma that all historic districts remain in one ward.”

Many residents were confused about the shifting process and felt there was an easier solution.

Ward 6 resident Edward Shaw felt the proposed plan is “discriminatory.”

“Who’s making the decision?” Shaw asked. “No one wants to be moved … the council needs to bridge the gap, not tear it down. Give us some type of schematics, show us who is being moved and why.”

Selma City Ward 4 councilwoman Angela Benjamin said she’s done all she could to fight for her ward.

“Residents from Ward 4 want to say there,” Benjamin said. “These 800 folks have to go somewhere and somebody has to take them. It’s not me — it’s Washington.”

Ward 1 councilman Tommy Atchison said Benjamin’s loss of population had a waterfall effect on other wards.

“There’s no explanation … we try to make scenarios work,” Atchison said. “There’s no arbitrary reason … we’re just forced to redistrict.”