Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Partnering with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the south to defend and advance their political, social and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing and communications.

SCSJ Calls on Lee County to Protect Black Voters in Redistricting Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2021MEDIA CONTACT: Sailor Jones, sailor@scsj.org, 919-260-5906 Durham, N.C. (Oct. 18, 2021) —  On Monday, Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) called on Lee County officials to adopt a redistricting plan that protects Black voters.  In a letter addressed to Lee County Attorney Whitney Parrish and the County’s seven sitting commissioners, […]

SCSJ Responds to Court of Appeals Decision Defending Voters Against Intimidation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT:Gino Nuzzolillo, Communications Advocate, SCSJ, 402-415-4763, gino@scsj.org SCSJ: “We vow to keep fighting against election fraud conspiracies so that no person experiences this kind of voter intimidation again.” Durham, N.C. (October 5, 2021) — In a 3-0 decision, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled today that accusing […]

Voting Rights Groups Applaud Judge’s Recommendation to Dismiss Lawsuit to Purge North Carolina Voters

SCSJ: “The court’s ruling sends a strong message that efforts to purge voters will not be tolerated in the Tar Heel state.” FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2021 MEDIA CONTACTS: Sailor Jones, 919-260-5905, sailor@scsj.orgGino Nuzzolillo, 402-415-4763, gino@scsj.org Durham, N.C. (September 30, 2021) — In an editorial published this week, voting rights advocates from the League of […]

Texas Groups Join Regional Effort to Prepare Voters for Redistricting Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 22, 2021 Media Contact:Sailor Jones, Communications Director, SCSJ, sailor@scsj.org, 919-260-5906 Fair Maps Texas, the Texas NAACP, and the League of Women Voters Texas join the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) to prepare Texas residents to engage and educate communities in fair districting AUSTIN, TX (September 22, 2021) — As the […]

BREAKING: State Court Blocks NC’s Discriminatory Voter ID Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT: Sailor Jones, Communications Director, 919-260-5906, media@scsj.org SCSJ: The ruling “sends a strong message that racial discrimination will not be tolerated.” Raleigh, N.C. (September 17, 2021) — A state court struck down North Carolina’s voter ID law today, saying the law was, “ was motivated at least in part by an unconstitutional […]

South Carolina Groups Join Regional Effort to Prepare Voters for Redistricting Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2021 Media Contacts:Sailor Jones, Communications Director, SCSJ sailor@scsj.org, 919-260-5906Mary Dell Hayes, Project Manager, SC Counts, marydellhayes@stopgapsolutionsmd.com, 803-730-7785 South Carolina Counts and South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center join the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) to prepare South Carolina residents to engage and educate communities in fair districting COLUMBIA, S.C. […]

BREAKING: Southern Coalition for Social Justice Responds to Passage of House Bill 805

SCSJ: “Politicians in Raleigh have made clear that they are willing to sacrifice the Constitutionally-guaranteed right to free speech“ DURHAM, N.C. (August 31, 2021) — Today, the North Carolina House passed HB805, an anti-protester and anti-BLM bill designed to stifle Constitutionally-protected free speech, assembly, and protest. Marcus Pollard, Counsel for Justice System Reform at Southern […]

Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Prison Policy Initiative Lead Anti-Prison Gerrymandering Campaign Throughout South

In collaboration with 14 Southern organizations, SCSJ targets 246 jurisdictions to advocate for an end to prison-based gerrymandering as 2020 Census data is released to policymakers. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 17, 2021CONTACTS:Sailor Jones, sailor@scsj.org, Communications DirectorGino Nuzzolillo, gino@scsj.org, Communications Advocate Durham, N.C. (August 17, 2021) — The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), partnering with […]

Southern Coalition for Social Justice Responds to Redistricting Data Release

SCSJ’s Allison Riggs: “We know the South is ready.” FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 12, 2021MEDIA CONTACT: Sailor Jones, Communications Director, sailor@scsj.org, 919-260-5906 Durham, N.C. (August 12, 2021) — In response to the U.S. Census Bureau’s August 12 release of redistricting data, Allison Riggs, Co-Executive Director and Chief Counsel for Voting Rights with North Carolina-based Southern […]

Louisiana’s Power Coalition Joins Regional Effort to Prepare Voters for Redistricting Planning

Louisiana Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) prepare three redistricting fellows to engage and educate Louisiana communities about equitable redistricting FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2021MEDIA CONTACTS:Janea Jamison,Director of Programs, Power Coalitionjjamison@powercoalition.org,985-513-1674 Sailor JonesCommunications Director, SCSJsailor@scsj.org919-260-5906 NEW ORLEANS, L.A. (August 4, 2021) —  As the nation gears up […]

Alabama Groups Join Regional Effort to Prepare Voters for Redistricting Process

Alabama Forward, The Ordinary People Society (TOPS), Mobile Alabama NAACP, and League of Women Voters Alabama join the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to prepare Alabama residents to engage and educate communities in fair districting FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2021MEDIA CONTACTS:Sailor Jones, Communications Director, SCSJ, sailor@scsj.org, 919-260-5906Robert […]

NC REPORT: Process to Fix Mail-in Ballots Saved Tens of Thousands of Votes in 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2021Media Contacts: Sailor Jones, 919-260-5906, sailor@scsj.orgGino Nuzzolillo, 402-415-4763, gino@scsj.org DURHAM, N.C. (July 29, 2021) — North Carolina’s 2020 mail-in “cure” process allowed nearly 20,000 North Carolinians to have their votes counted in the general election, according to a new report from Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ). In August 2020, […]

SCSJ Responds to Supreme Court Decision to Deny State Relief Under the Voting Rights Act

SCSJ: “Today, the Supreme Court ignored the impact of Arizona’s racist, anti-voter legislation” Durham, N.C. (July 1, 2021) — A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court today denied challenges to two election restrictions in Arizona and narrowed the application of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act without foreclosing the possibility to bring future claims.  […]

SCSJ Responds to NC Senate Passage of Anti-Voter Bills

RALEIGH, N.C. (6.16.2021) — The North Carolina Senate today advanced three bills that would slash mail-in voting deadlines, create a redundant online voter registration system, and bar elections boards from accepting grant funding. The bills, which passed along party lines, now head to the House for consideration. Allison Riggs, Co-Executive Director and Chief Counsel for […]

Southern Coalition for Social Justice Joins N.C. Voting Rights Advocates to Oppose Anti-Voter Bills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2021CONTACT: Sailor Jones, sailor@scsj.org, 919-260-5906 RALEIGH, N.C. (June 14, 2021) — Voting rights advocates converged on the grounds of the N.C. General Assembly on Monday for a press conference to speak out against Senate Bills 326, 724, and 725 as lawmakers ramp up efforts to restrict access to the ballot.  […]

Southern Coalition for Social Justice Responds to Senate Bill 724’s Fast-tracked Changes to Online Voter Registration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2021CONTACT: Sailor Jones, (919) 260-5906, sailor@scsj.org DURHAM (June 9, 2021) — North Carolina-based voting rights group Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) responded today to Senate Bill 724, one of a slate of Republican voting-related changes being fast-tracked in the North Carolina legislature. The bill not only invests in NC’s enjoined […]

Protecting Against the Onslaught of Voter Suppression Efforts in the States: A Statement from the Voting Rights Working Group

READ THE FULL STATEMENT. (May 18, 2021) — As a nation, we have a shared commitment and responsibility to protect the voices and the rights of American voters. Our systems of democracy are made stronger when we all are respected and heard. A representative and effective government starts with free and fair access to the vote. […]