News

Justice System Reform

SCSJ’s New Explainer Explores Manipulation of Crime, Safety Narrative 

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 18, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) exposes the myth of “rising crime” in its latest installment of Reframing Public…

Justice System Reform

Childcare Advocates, Clergy Celebrate as Protest Charges Dropped 

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 10, 2024) – Charges were dismissed Tuesday against eight concerned faith leaders, childcare advocates, and clergy members who were arrested at the North…

Voting Rights

NC NAACP, Impacted Voters Urge State Board to Dismiss NC Election Protests 

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 6, 2024) — The North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and two impacted voters, Bertha Leverette and Jackson Sailor Jones, urged…

Environmental Justice

SCSJ, Allies Demand Stronger Protections for Community in Duke Energy’s Roxboro Gas Plant Air Permit

DURHAM, N.C. (Nov. 26, 2024) – Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) released the following statement alongside its public comments to the NCDEQ, Division of…

SCSJ Releases Umar Muhammad Clean Slate Toolkit Updates, Recommendations for Expanding Second Chances 

DURHAM, N.C. (November 25, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) has released an updated copy of the Umar Muhammad Clean Slate toolkit, which…

Environmental Justice

Greenville Community Battles Gas Station Construction by School 

GREENVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 22, 2024) – Greenville residents are urging the court to rethink allowing a gas station to operate just 1,000 feet from a…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Updates Resource Guide for Successful Reentry after Incarceration 

DURHAM, N.C. (Nov. 19, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice has released an updated copy of the Your First 48 Hours Toolkit, a resource…

Justice System Reform

Media Advisory: Advocates to Hold Press Conference About Open Courts Lawsuit

DURHAM, N.C. (Nov. 18, 2024) — On Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., Durham advocates and social justice organizations will host a press conference…

Justice System Reform

Human Rights Organizations Demand Prison Population Reduction to Ease Overcrowding After Hurricane Helene

RALEIGH , N.C. (Oct. 31, 2024) — North Carolina human rights organizations signed onto a letter to demand the release of 400 incarcerated women and…

Voting Rights

Statement from the Voting Rights Working Group: Civil Rights Organizations Stand Ready to Protect and Support Voters During the 2024 General Election Cycle

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 30, 2024) — With the 2024 general elections well underway, we are working to ensure voters can cast their ballots and that…

Voting Rights

Military Voting Rights Groups Applaud N.C. Court’s Order Protecting Overseas Voters 

The case stems from RNC’s attempt to question voting eligibility of some overseas voters. DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2024) – Two nonpartisan groups focused on…

Voting Rights

Civil Rights Groups, Voters Celebrate Decision in Dangerous Voter Purge Case

DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 29, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Mayer Brown, the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, as well as Sailor Jones and Bertha Leverette release the following statement on the 4th Circuit’s ruling in Republican National Committee v. North Carolina State Board of Elections. 

NC NAACP, Voters Urge Court to Prevent Last-Minute Voter Purge 

DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 24, 2024) — The North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and two voters are urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for…

Voting Rights

Be The Ones’ Statement on Extension to S.C.’s Voter Registration Deadline

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Oct. 4, 2024) — The following is statement from Cate Mayer, founder and director of Be the Ones: “I applaud Circuit Court Judge…

Communications

SCSJ Statement on Hurricane Helene Devastation

DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 2, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice is heartbroken over the devastation our neighbors in Western North Carolina and across the South are enduring in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The loss of life, homes, livelihoods, heritage lands, and precious natural resources is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by many in our region. 

Voting Rights

Tennessee Advocates Shift Focus After Racial Gerrymandering Case Dismissal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 26, 2024) — A large coalition of Tennessee voting and civil rights advocates announced Thursday they will not refile litigation related to the alleged racially discriminatory gerrymandering of Congressional and state legislative districts in Tennessee.

Voting Rights

Voting Rights Advocates Support UNC Students’ Ability to Use Digital ID Cards as Voter ID in 2024 Election

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 26, 2024) – The North Carolina Court of Appeals should reject a petition filed by the Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party that seeks to stop University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [UNC] students from using their digital Mobile One Cards as identification cards to vote in the 2024 election, according to an amicus brief filed Wednesday.

Environmental Justice

SCSJ Joins Fight Against Toxic Waste Facilities in Miami-Dade County 

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) stands united with our partners in urging the rejection of new waste incinerator projects in Miami-Dade County. Historically, marginalized communities have borne the brunt of toxic waste facilities, suffering from severe health impacts and environmental destruction. 

Environmental Justice

SCSJ Commends EJAC for Addressing West Badin Pollution Concerns

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 13, 2024) — Governor Roy Cooper’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) will hold its final public meeting in Stanly County, a decision that honors the years of dedicated work by community members and advocates fighting local injustices.

Justice System Reform

Upcoming Alamance Reentry Event Will Feature Performers, Impacted Panel Discussion

BURLINGTON, N.C. (Sept. 11, 2024) — Several organizations will come together this month to host a powerful reentry event featuring performances of stories from the Hidden Voices' project ReVisioning Rural Reentry. The stories, which highlight critical perspectives from rural communities across the state, will be followed by a candid panel discussion between three individuals who returned to Alamance County after incarceration.

Justice System Reform

SCSJ’s ‘Safe Return’ Report Details Successes of NC Releasing People Early from Prison 

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 4, 2024) — During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina safely sent thousands of people home early from prison with no negative impact to public safety, according to a new report, “Safe Return,” from Southern Coalition for Social Justice released as part of its Reframing Public Safety Series. 

Voting Rights

Civil Rights Groups Challenge RNC’s, NC Republican Party’s Baseless Voter Purge Request

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 5, 2024) — The North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and an impacted North Carolina voter are requesting to intervene in a case to protect nearly a quarter of a million voters from the Republican National Committee’s and North Carolina Republican Party’s baseless attempt to force the State Board of Elections to remove them from the state’s voter rolls on the eve of the 2024 presidential election.  

Environmental Justice

SCSJ: Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan Prioritizes Profits Over Practical Solutions 

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 3, 2024) — Duke Energy has made it clear — its Carbon Plan is about making itself richer, not moving North Carolina to a carbon-free future. After a lengthy expert witness hearing, Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) has filed a brief detailing the many ways Duke's plan fails ratepayers, particularly lower-income North Carolinians who disproportionately bear the costs both on their utility bills and their health. 

Environmental Justice

SCSJ Celebrates EJ Mapping Tool Success and Proposes New Features

DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 30, 2024) — Gov. Roy Cooper's Executive Order No. 292 to advance Environmental Justice ignited a powerful commitment to combat pollution, climate change, and exploitation of marginalized communities across North Carolina. 

Voting Rights

NC GOP Files Cynical Lawsuit to Incite Anti-Immigrant Hate, Undermine Trust in Elections

UPDATE (Aug. 27, 2024) — It’s Groundhog Day in North Carolina. Just like last week’s lawsuit, the NC GOP have again asked a state court…

Justice System Reform

Community Leaders Urge Court to Uphold Racial Justice Act, Condemn NC Death Penalty

SMITHFIELD, N.C. (Aug. 21, 2024) — Closing arguments in the historic Racial Justice Act (RJA) hearing in the case of Hasson Bacote are scheduled to…

Voting Rights

Funding Headed to Southern Grassroots Groups to Engage and Empower Voters  

DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 15, 2024) -  The Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement Network (SOLVE), a project of Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024-2025 SOLVE Southern Spark Grants.  

Voting Rights

New Report on Voting Access Barriers in the South

DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 6, 2024) — The Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement (SOLVE) Network is excited to announce the release of its “State of the South: Voting Rights Under Assault” report, which details the challenges millions of voters in the South will face this fall to exercise their freedom to vote.

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Focuses on School Resource Officers in First Part of New Ongoing Public Safety Series 

DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 5, 2024) — School resource officers (SROs) create an unsafe environment for children, according to part one of a new series, Reframing Public Safety, from SCSJ.

Voting Rights

Fifth Circuit Court Rules That Galveston Minority Voting Coalitions Are Not Protected Under Voting Rights Act

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Aug. 2, 2024) — Yesterday, the en banc United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, overruled decades of Voting Rights Act (VRA) precedent to reverse our clients’ redistricting victory in the Petteway v. Galveston County case.

Environmental Justice

Greensboro City Council Bows to Community Demands for More Input Over Bingham Park Toxic Waste Removal 

GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 19, 2024) — The Greensboro City Council has cancelled its July 23 meeting on the contaminated waste from the Bingham Park cleanup…

Environmental Justice

SCSJ Condemns Merger of Enbridge, Dominion 

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 12, 2024) - Southern Coalition for Social Justice stood alongside environmental and community advocates to condemn the potential merger of Dominion Energy…

Justice System Reform

Warnings About Police in Schools: SCSJ Releases Memo to Fayetteville City Officials 

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (July 10, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) recommends Fayetteville keeps its schools police-free in a memo addressing the city’s proposal…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Statements on Supreme Court OK’ing Punishment for Sleeping While Unhoused

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 28, 2024) — In a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled penalizing unhoused people for sleeping outside when there is no…

Voting Rights

The Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement (SOLVE) Network Announces Funding Opportunity

DURHAM, N.C. (May 29, 2024) –– The Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement (SOLVE) Network is excited to announce a series of $10,000 one-year project grants…

Voting Rights

NC Supreme Court Sides with Political Operatives Instead of Voters in Defamation Case 

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 23, 2024) — The North Carolina Supreme Court sided with out-of-state political operatives Thursday in an opinion condoning agents of former state…

Voting Rights

SCOTUS Rules Against SC’s Black Voters, Allows Racially Discriminatory Maps to Stand

DURHAM, N.C. (May 29, 2024) — In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court today issued a decision that reversed a federal trial court’s unanimous finding…

Environmental Justice

NC Environmental Advocates Unite to Challenge Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan

DURHAM, N.C. (May 21, 2024) — Environmental justice organizations filed to intervene in Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan to ensure the voices of frontline communities are…

Voting Rights

Galveston Community Stands Together for Review of Redistricting Case

NEW ORLEANS, La. (May 14, 2024) – Today, the en banc hearing in the redistricting case Petteway v. Galveston County concluded. The hearing took place…

Justice System Reform

REPORT: North Carolina’s Education System Stuck in Cycle of Racism 

DURHAM, N.C. (May 1, 2024) — Significant racial disparities continue to infect North Carolina’s school system, disproportionately impacting students of color, according to Southern Coalition…

Environmental Justice

SCSJ Presents Environmental Tools at Sampson County Science Fair

CLINTON, N.C. (April 29, 2024) — Sampson County became a nexus for environmental activism and empowerment as researchers and advocates gathered to present their findings…

Communications

SCSJ Hosts Carbon Plan Virtual Hearing Watch Party

DURHAM, N.C. (April 24, 2024) – Southern Coalition for Social Justice hosted North Carolina residents for a panel and watch party of the North Carolina…

Voting Rights

Federal Court Declares North Carolina Racist Voting Law Unconstitutional 

GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 23, 2024) — A federal court has ruled that District Attorneys in North Carolina can no longer enforce a racist law allowing…

Voting Rights

District Court Allows South Carolina’s Racially Gerrymandered Congressional Map to Remain in Place for 2024 Election Cycle

COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 28, 2024) — A three-judge district court issued an order allowing South Carolina’s racially gerrymandered congressional map to remain in place for…

Voting Rights

Black Voters in South Carolina Urge Supreme Court to Allow Fair Maps in 2024 Elections 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 25, 2024) —  South Carolina should not be able to hold elections using racially gerrymandered congressional districts in this year’s elections, according…

Voting Rights

Mail Returned as Undeliverable in List Maintenance

Voting rights advocates released a memorandum addressing the challenges and implications surrounding the use of mail returned as undeliverable in voter list maintenance. The memo…

Communications

Voting Rights Organizations Release Report, Recommendations on Mail Deliverability Risks

DURHAM, N.C. (March 20, 2024) — Voting rights advocates released a memorandum this week addressing the challenges and implications surrounding the use of mail returned…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Seeks Decision in NC Parole Commission Case

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 5, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice is seeking a decision in a lawsuit involving a man who was sentenced to…

Voting Rights

SCSJ Endorses Federal Voting Rights Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 29, 2024) — Senate Democrats and civil rights leaders announced the reintroduction today of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act…

Environmental Justice

Person County residents file complaint against proposed harmful Moriah Energy Center

ROUGEMONT, N.C. (Feb 6, 2024) — Person County residents and environmental justice organizations have filed a complaint to stop the construction of the dangerous Moriah…

Voting Rights

SCSJ saddened following passing of League of Women Voters US President 

DURHAM, N.C. (Jan. 31, 2024)— Southern Coalition for Social Justice is mourning the loss of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS)…

Communications

SCSJ, Allies Demand Improved Voter ID Rules From State Board of Elections 

DURHAM, N.C. (Jan. 18, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice and its allies demanded improved, legally compliant voter photo ID rules in a letter…

Voting Rights

Black North Carolinians, voting rights groups file lawsuit against racially discriminatory NC electoral maps

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 19, 2023) – North Carolina voters and nonpartisan voting rights groups filed a lawsuit in federal court today against the state legislature’s…

Voting Rights

Georgia Court Blocks Racially Gerrymandered Cobb County School Board Map

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (December 15, 2023) — In a win for Black and Latinx voters, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia…

Justice System Reform

Charlotte Police Body Cam Footage Illustrates Inappropriate, Unjustified Response in Steele Creek Arrest 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Dec. 13, 2023) — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) released body camera footage this week from an arrest initially caught on a bystander’s…

Voting Rights

SCOTUS leaves racially gerrymandered Galveston County map in place for 2024 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 12, 2023) — The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed a racially gerrymandered map to remain in place in Galveston County for the…

Voting Rights

UPDATE: District Court clears the way for new, remedial electoral map for Galveston County 

Updated Dec. 1, 2023 GALVESTON, Texas (Dec. 1, 2023) — The U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Texas has implemented a remedial map…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ hosts EU Delegation to Call for an End to Capital Punishment in North Carolina 

DURHAM, N.C. (November 8, 2023) – European Union diplomats and human rights advocates gathered at Southern Coalition for Social Justice’s (SCSJ) new offices last week…

Voting Rights

Civil Rights Groups, Cobb County Voters Seek Injunction to Racially Discriminatory Map

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (Oct. 24, 2023) — Today, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), ACLU of Georgia, Lawyers’ Committee…

Voting Rights

Civil rights groups file lawsuit against youth voting restrictions 

DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 17, 2023) — Senate Bill 747 (SB 747) is an unconstitutional burden on the fundamental right to vote for young North Carolinians,…

Voting Rights

Judge rules Galveston County must redraw discriminatory 2021 map

GALVESTON, TEXAS (Oct. 13, 2023) – Today, Judge Jeffrey V. Brown of the Southern District of Texas ruled in favor of civil rights groups’ argument…

Environmental Justice

SCSJ condemns HB 600 override for putting big business over North Carolinians 

DURHAM (Oct. 12, 2023) – Southern Coalition for Social Justice condemns the NC General Assembly’s decision to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of an anti-environment…

Voting Rights

Partisan Aims Cannot Excuse Racial Gerrymandering

WASHINGTON, DC (October 10, 2023) — Party and race have been intricately intertwined in redistricting, with race and party many times serving as a proxy…

Voting Rights

TRIAL RECAP: Advocates, Experts Testify to Inconsistent Florida Redistricting Process 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (Oct. 9, 2023) – As Common Cause et al. v. Byrd reached its conclusion this week, experts and advocates conveyed a singular message:…

Communications

Civil rights advocates demand protection for Black voters in SC SCOTUS case

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 5, 2023) — The U.S. Supreme Court must uphold precedent and continue to prohibit racial discrimination in redistricting cases when it hears…

Voting Rights

North Carolina advocates call for lawful criteria in 2023 redraw of Congressional and state legislative voting maps 

RALEIGH (Oct. 4, 2023) – In an Oct. 3 letter, a coalition of more than 20 nonprofit and advocacy groups called for the North Carolina…

Voting Rights

TRIAL RECAP: Judges hear from Impacted Residents, Experts on Florida’s Gerrymandered Districts 

TALLAHASSEE, FL (Sept. 29, 2023) – Residents and experts condemned Florida’s 2022 congressional voting maps in federal court throughout the first week of testimony in…

Voting Rights

Nonpartisan Groups Head to Court to Challenge DeSantis’ Unfair Voting Map

TALLAHASSE, FL (Sept. 26, 2023) — Today in federal court, Common Cause Florida and plaintiffs began arguments in the trial over the state’s gerrymandered 2022 congressional…

Communications

SOLVE Network Awards Grants to Southern Organizations 

DURHAM, NC (September 18, 2023) — The Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement Network (SOLVE), which is part of Southern Coalition for Social Justice, granted $300,000…

Communications

Gov. Roy Cooper appoints Allison Riggs to NC Supreme Court

RALEIGH, NC (Sept 11, 2023) – Governor Roy Cooper has appointed Allison J. Riggs, current Court of Appeals judge and former Southern Coalition for Social…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ, Emancipate NC urge action on Edenton’s Confederate statue relocation 

EDENTON, N.C. (Sept. 8, 2023) – Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Emancipate NC urge the town of Edenton to seek a court hearing in…

Communications

Statement: Justice Earls’ Lawsuit Highlights Troubling Pattern of Attacks on Black Elected Officials in the South 

RALEIGH (August 30, 2023) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice is alarmed at the allegations unveiled in North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls’ recent…

Voting Rights

Voting Rights Groups Release 2022 Midterm Election Protection Report, Detailing NC Voting Trends 

DURHAM, N.C. (8/24/2023) – Voters’ experiences during the 2022 Midterms confirms the continued need to improve voting policies, Early Voting, voter registration, and access and…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ challenges North Carolina’s parole system 

RALEIGH, NC (Aug. 22, 2023) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice is representing a man who has been incarcerated for more than 40 years, who…

Voting Rights

SCSJ, allies call upon Supreme Court to strike down racially gerrymandered maps

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of civil rights groups are calling upon the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm that South Carolina’s congressional map is racially…

Voting Rights

Galveston Racial Gerrymandering Trial Begins  

GALVESTON, TX – Black and Brown residents of Galveston County packed a federal court this week as civil rights groups began a trial this week…

Voting Rights

Civil Rights Groups File Federal Lawsuit to Block Racially Discriminatory Tennessee Redistricting

Nashville, TN (August 9, 2023) — The Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP, the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee, the Equity Alliance, the Memphis…

Voting Rights

SCSJ, Texas Civil Rights Project Take Galveston Gerrymandering to Trial

GALVESTON, TEXAS – This Monday, August 7, civil rights groups will head to trial to make the case that the Galveston County Commissioners Court diluted the…

Voting Rights

Case Against Racially Gerrymandered Cobb County School Board Map to Move Forward 

ATLANTA, Ga. — A federal court judge on Friday agreed with voting rights groups representing impacted individuals and organizations in Cobb County that a lawsuit challenging…

Environmental Justice

SCSJ condemns veto override of environmental protections 

DURHAM – Southern Coalition for Social Justice condemns the North Carolina General Assembly’s irresponsible decision to override Governor Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 582, or…

Voting Rights

Major Victory for Voters with SCOTUS’ Rejection of Dangerous Attempt to Destroy Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 27, 2023) — The U.S. Supreme Court handed voters a major victory today with its 6-3 ruling that state courts can review…

Voting Rights

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Dangerous Attempt to Destroy Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court handed voters a major victory today with their ruling that state courts can review — and rectify —…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Mourns Loss of Tireless Durham Justice Innovator

DURHAM — Southern Coalition for Social Justice is sharing in our Durham community’s sadness as we remember Chukwuemeka “Chuck” Ajiri Manning Sr., a tireless justice…

Communications

SCSJ Calls for End of Voting Law That Criminalizes Mistakes by Individuals with Felony Convictions

DURHAM — A group of pro-democracy plaintiffs have asked a federal court in the Middle
District of North Carolina to block a longstanding racist law…

Communications

SCSJ Celebrates Historic Victory in Allen v. Milligan 

ALABAMA — The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the continued importance of the Voting Rights Act today in Allen v. Milligan by upholding a lower court’s…

Communications

SCSJ Condemns Voting Omnibus Bill as Blatant Disenfranchisement 

RALEIGH, NC – Southern Coalition for Social Justice condemns North Carolina Republicans’ sweeping omnibus elections bill as a coordinated attack on our state’s voting system…

Communications

More than 100 NC Organizations, Attorneys, Officials, Individuals Condemn NCBA’s Drag Show Cancellation, Call for Retraction

DURHAM, NC — Southern Coalition for Social Justice, along with more than 120 legal, nonprofit and LGBTQ organizations, current and former elected officials, members of…

Voting Rights

Filing: SCOTUS Should Rule in Major Voting Rights Case, Moore v. Harper

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The dispute over the fringe independent state legislature theory must be resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in time to prepare maps,…

Voting Rights

NC Board of Elections Should Issue National Voter Registration Act Guidance to County Boards

During the 2022 election cycle, voter registration groups in North Carolina ran into a new problem: a shortage of paper copies of registration forms. Groups…

North Carolina Supreme Court Greenlights Partisan Gerrymandering, Racist Voter ID Law

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Supreme Court signaled today it will not provide a check on legislative efforts to discriminate against resident voters, vacating two…

Justice System Reform

Alamance County Board of Commissioners Urge Lawmakers to Fund Public Defender’s Office

The Alamance County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to pass a resolution urging the North Carolina General Assembly to provide funding for a public…

Voting Rights

SCSJ Report: NC Needs Better Election Funding, Advocacy 

DURHAM, NC — With insights from 40 counties and 12 election officials, Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) and the Harvard Ash Center for Democratic…

Voting Rights

NC Legislator Party Affiliation Switcheroo Yet Another Slap in Face of NC Voters

DURHAM, NC — Rep. Tricia Cotham, of Charlotte, announced today that she is switching her party affiliation from Democratic to Republican, subverting the will of…

Justice System Reform

North Carolina BIPOC Students Continue to Suffer Inequity According to Racial Equity Report Cards

DURHAM (April 4, 2023) — School systems across North Carolina continue to fail BIPOC students, who experience significantly higher rates of disciplinary action in schools…

Voting Rights

Galveston District Court Rejects Motion to Dismiss Racial Gerrymandering Case  

GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS – In a major win last week, a federal court in Texas refused to ignore Galveston County residents who said they were…

Voting Rights

State Board of Elections Removes Election Deniers from Surry County Board

DOBSON, N.C. — In a historic win against election denialism, the State Board of Elections voted unanimously today to remove Jerry Forestieri and Timothy DeHaan…

Voting Rights

Filing: Proceedings in NC Redistricting Case Do Not Change US Supreme Court’s Ability to Decide Moore v. Harper  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court should reject the dangerous and fringe independent state legislature theory (ISLT) presented in Moore v. Harper regardless of…

Voting Rights

SCSJ praises Goldsboro residents stopping election change 

GOLDSBORO, NC — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) praises the work of residents of Goldsboro, who pushed back Tuesday against potential plans to change…

Voting Rights

North Carolina Supreme Court Justices Seek Racist Statements to Prove Discriminatory Intent in Voter ID Case 

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Supreme Court Justices do not need smoking-gun evidence of racial animus or to wait for actual North Carolina voters to…

Voting Rights

RECAP: NC Supreme Court Rehears Arguments on Harper v. Hall Voting Rights Case

RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican lawmakers want supreme power when it comes to deciding what’s fair in electoral mapmaking their attorney told the North Carolina Supreme…

Voting Rights

SCSJ Finds Over-Inclusive Voter Removals Disproportionately Impact Voters of Color

DURHAM, NC – Thousands of North Carolinians have been removed from the voter rolls this year with a disproportional impact on people of color, a…

Voting Rights

Plaintiffs in Redistricting, Voter ID Cases Respond to Impractical Arguments for NC Supreme Court to Abandon Prior Decisions 

RALEIGH, N.C. — Legal briefs filed Friday by plaintiffs’ attorneys in Harper v. Hall and Holmes v. Moore responded to North Carolina Republican lawmakers’ unprecedented…

Voting Rights

SCSJ Extends Condolences Following Passing of Common Cause President, Democracy Warrior 

DURHAM, N.C. — Southern Coalition for Social Justice extends its deepest condolences to Common Cause and all who knew and loved Karen Hobert Flynn following…

Justice System Reform

Recap: NC Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Felony Re-Enfranchisement Case 

The North Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments February 2, 2023, in CSI v. Moore, a voting rights case that will determine whether people with…

Environmental Justice

Anne Harvey Joins SCSJ as Chief Counsel for Environmental Justice 

DURHAM, N.C. — Anne Harvey has joined the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) as the Chief Counsel for Environmental Justice.   SCSJ is growing its…

Voting Rights

NC Supreme Court Majority Breaks Precedent to Rehear Settled Redistricting, Voter ID Cases Post Election 

RALEIGH, N.C. — In an extreme departure from precedent, the North Carolina Supreme Court announced Friday it would rehear two cases — one involving statewide…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Stands with Community, Civil Rights Groups in Call for Police Accountability

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Southern Coalition for Social Justice is joining other civil rights groups and the community in calling for an end to over-policing…

Voting Rights

Common Cause Asks NC Supreme Court to Dismiss ‘Frivolous’ Petition to Rehear Partisan Gerrymandering Case 

RALEIGH, N.C. — Common Cause North Carolina has asked the North Carolina Supreme Court to dismiss Republican lawmakers’ frivolous attempt to reverse prior redistricting decisions…

Voting Rights

Republican Legislators Petition NC Supreme Court to Toss Precedent, Rehear Voting Rights Cases Involving Discrimination Against Black Voters 

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republican lawmakers are wasting no time trying to use the recently-flipped state Supreme Court to their advantage — they filed…

Voting Rights

Sounding the Alarm for Democracy: Voters and Advocates Rally in D.C. as SCOTUS Considers Moore v. Harper

On December 7, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Moore v. Harper, a case legal experts are calling “the most important debate over federalism…

Voting Rights

Columbus County NAACP Reacts to Racist Sheriff Resignation; New Sheriff Appointment

WHITEVILLE, NC — Jody Greene, the Columbus County Sheriff embroiled in legal trouble over racist remarks and behavior while in office, resigned for a second…

Voting Rights

North Carolina Supreme Court Rejects Gamesmanship in Latest Redistricting Opinion 

RALEIGH, N.C. — On Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down the General Assembly’s remedial Senate map, which was used in the 2022 general…

Voting Rights

North Carolina Supreme Court Strikes Down Voter Photo ID Law as Unconstitutional, Discriminatory 

RALEIGH, N.C. (December 16, 2022) — The North Carolina Supreme Court has struck down the legislature’s most recent iteration of a photo voter ID law…

Voting Rights

Gov. Roy Cooper Appoints Allison Riggs to Court of Appeals

RALEIGH, N.C. — Southern Coalition for Social Justice Co-Executive Director and Voting Rights Chief Counsel, Allison Riggs, has been appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to…

Justice System Reform

TOMORROW: Rally With Us to End Death Penalty

From our partners at North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NCCADP): Please join people from across our state for a march and…

Voting Rights

Columbus County Voter Appeals Local BOE’s Decision to Let Jody Greene Move Ahead as Sheriff

WHITEVILLE, NC — Herman Lewis, second Vice President of the Columbus County NAACP, filed an appeal Monday with the North Carolina State Board of Elections…

Voting Rights

MEDIA ADVISORY: Common Cause, SCSJ, to Co-Host Pre-Moore v. Harper Rally, Post-Argument Press Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Common Cause and Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) will host a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court beginning at 9:30 a.m.…

Voting Rights

Media Briefing: How Democracy Will Be Protected in Upcoming SCOTUS Case

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Common Cause, Southern Coalition for Social Justice and global law firm Hogan Lovells held a media briefing Thursday, Dec. 1, outlining the…

Voting Rights

Columbus County Voter Files Petition to Prevent Jody Greene from Taking Office as Sheriff Due to Racist Behavior, Misconduct

WHITEVILLE, NC — Herman Lewis, second Vice President of the Columbus County NAACP, filed a protest Tuesday with the Columbus County Board of Elections asking…

Voting Rights

How to Advocate for Eligible Incarcerated Voters to Cast Ballots

There are more than 740,000 people in jails across the country, the majority of whom are either awaiting trial — they are legally innocent —…

Justice System Reform

Durham School Students, Advocates Discuss School-to-Prison Pipeline at Duke Class

Durham public school students joined social justice advocates at Duke Law last week to discuss school-to-prison pipeline in North Carolina and the barriers preventing its…