SCSJ: “…these bills send a strong message that our legislature’s priority is not protecting the fundamental rights of North Carolinians.” DURHAM, N.C. (5.6.2021) — North Carolina lawmakers are fast-tracking two bills on Thursday that would create more penalties for protesters and provide more protections for police. House Bill 805, sponsored on May 3, by House […]
Southern Coalition for Social Justice Reacts to Killing of Andrew Brown Jr., Joins Brown Family and Protestors in Calling for Release of Footage
SCSJ: “[We] demand justice for Andrew Brown Jr., accountability for the police violence that took his life, and transparency for his loved ones and others seeking safety and reassurance.” DURHAM, N.C. (April 29, 2021) — Following a judge’s denial on Wednesday of requests to immediately release videos showing police officer’s fatal shooting of Andrew Brown, Jr., Southern […]
Southern Coalition for Social Justice Launches New Toolkit to Help Individuals Successfully Transition from Incarceration
For Immediate ReleaseDec. 16, 2020 For media inquiries:Michelle Rashmrash@rlfcommunications.com336-553-1733 (office)336-823-5501 (mobile) Durham, N.C. — The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) has launched a new criminal justice reform initiative to better prepare individuals who have been released from federal or state prison to navigate the re-entry process. A key component of this initiative is the […]
Southern Coalition for Social Justice Launches New Toolkit to Help Navigate Expungement Process
For media inquiries:Michelle Rashmrash@rlfcommunications.com336-553-1733 (office)336-823-5501 (mobile) Durham, N.C. — The Southern Coalition for Social Justice has launched a new effort focused on helping individuals with criminal records better navigate the process to have their records expunged. At the center of this outreach is the Umar Muhammad Clean Slate Toolkit, a free resource providing a step-by-step […]
Letter of Support for Executive Order No. 158 Furthering Fair Chance Policies in State Government Employment
RE: Letter of Support for Executive Order No. 158 Furthering Fair Chance Policies in State Government Employment
Settlement of Case Involving Preventable Teen Suicide in Durham County Jail to Lead to Significant Policy Changes
DURHAM, N.C. – Two years after 17-year-old Uniece Fennell took her own life in the Durham County Detention Center, a lawsuit brought by her family has resulted in a settlement agreement containing significant policy changes and protections for youth detained and in the custody of the County. The lawsuit and settlement agreement were filed simultaneously with […]
Statements from SCSJ Regarding Passage of the FIRST STEP Act in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives approved the FIRST STEP Act (S. 756) today, one day after the U.S. Senate passed the legislation on a broad bipartisan vote. The FIRST STEP Act, an acronym that stands for Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act, includes provisions that will, among things: […]
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Subpoenas Local Election Boards for Troves of Information in Apparent Fishing Expedition, Undermining 2018 Election Administration
RALEIGH, N.C.– Assistant U.S. Attorney Sebastian Kielmanovich recently issued subpoenas to Boards of Elections in all 44 counties in North Carolina’s Federal Eastern District on behalf of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While the exact timing of the issuance of the subpoenas is not clear, they became public knowledge on September […]
Statement Regarding Alamance County Voters Accused of Voting While Ineligible
GRAHAM, N.C. – Five voters represented by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) charged with voting while ineligible accepted plea deals to lesser charges in Alamance County Superior Court today. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped all felony voting-related charges. SCSJ clients Anthony Haith, Neko Rogers, Whitney Brown, Keith Sellars and Willie Vinson, […]
Mother of Niecey Fennell Speaks Out on Critical Safety Issues at Durham Detention Center
Durham, N.C. — Attorneys for the family of Uniece “Niecey” Fennell, who was found deceased, hanging in the Durham County Detention Facility (DCDF) in March 2017, have again called upon the Durham County Board of Commissioners to address critical safety issues at the facility in the county’s 2018-19 fiscal budget. Adding to remarks made at […]
Press Release: Civil Rights Groups Sue North Carolina DMV For Revoking Driver’s Licenses of People Who Cannot Pay Traffic Tickets
Taking licenses from people who cannot pay violates the U.S. Constitution, lawsuit says RALEIGH, N.C. –The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has revoked the licenses of hundreds of thousands of people simply because they cannot afford to pay traffic fines and court costs. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the American Civil Liberties […]
Statement from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice Regarding the Dismissal of Charges for the Protesters Charged with Toppling Confederate Monument in Durham
On February 20, 2018, Durham District Attorney Roger Echols announced that he was dismissing the charges against protesters charged with toppling the Confederate monument outside of the old Durham County Courthouse in August 2017. The decision came the day after the first three protesters to stand trial had their cases dismissed or were acquitted. Whitley Carpenter, part of […]