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Justice System Reform

Duke Energy Provides $25,000 Grant For SCSJ’s 2022 Justice System Reform Work

DURHAM, N.C. (December 21, 2021) — Duke Energy has awarded Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) with a $25,000 grant to expand the educational and advocacy work of the North Carolina-based organization’s Justice System Reform (JSR) team. Through community lawyering, communications, and organizing, the JSR Team promotes social and economic justice by ensuring police accountability,…

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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 —…

On right, a photo of a smling Black girl with an afro ponytail in front of.a white circle. On left, a photo of a jumping graduate with green decorative elements betweenthe girl and the graduate.

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…

Voting Rights

Voting Rights Groups Ask U.S. DOJ to Guard Against Unauthorized Ballot Access in Texas

AUSTIN, TX — Today, the League of Women Voters of Texas and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice called on the U.S. Department of Justice…

Voting Rights

Common Cause, SCSJ File Moore v. Harper Respondents’ Brief Upholding Checks and Balances in Nation’s Elections

The Supreme Court justices will hear oral arguments in the major voting rights case on December 7, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2022 Washington,…

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Supports Calls for Columbus Sheriff Investigation, Resignation

Durham, N.C. (Sept. 29, 2022) — WECT News 6 published an article Wednesday detailing racist comments made by Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene. The Southern…

Justice System Reform

Fair Chance Business S.W.I.T. Encourages Second Chances

Success While In Transition (S.W.I.T.) has partnered with Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) to promote Fair Chance Business Certifications among North Carolina employers. S.W.I.T.…

Voting Rights

SCSJ, AALDEF, ACLU of TX, Brennan Center Issue Statement Responding to District Court’s Postponement of Texas Redistricting Trial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2022 On Wednesday, August 31, legal counsel representing plaintiffs in the case Fair Maps Texas Action Committee, et al., v.…

Voting Rights

Supreme Court Takes N.C. Case Threatening Future of Voting Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2022 The U.S. Supreme Court decided on June 30, 2022, it will hear oral arguments during the October 2022 term…

Voting Rights

New York Gun Opinion Should Not Leave Election Workers, Voters Vulnerable

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that New York’s gun licensing system, “which issues public-carry licenses only when an applicant demonstrates a special need…

Voting Rights

Southern Coalition Responds to Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision

We are angry and heartbroken by the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs. While abortion in North Carolina remains safe and legal, no person should be…

Justice System Reform

Beulaville Family Targeted in 2 Home Arsons Demand Justice

Since the end of January, two members of the Beulaville Judge family have had their homes intentionally set on fire, and now — in the…

Voting Rights

Voting Rights Groups Challenge Cobb County School Board Map Denying Equal Representation to Voters of Color

Cobb County School Board and Board of Elections Maps Unconstitutionally “Pack” Voters of Color into 3 Districts, Denying Black and Latinx Communities’ Opportunity for Full…

Honoring Maurice Holland, Sr.

Southern Coalition For Social Justice extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Maurice Holland Sr. His foundational support for this organization…

General

Statement on Mass Shootings in Uvalde & Buffalo

Trigger warning: This statement speaks about a mass tragedy and gun violence. If you or someone you know is a survivor of a mass tragedy…

Voting Rights

SCSJ, Common Cause Repudiate NC Lawmakers’ Attempts to Entrench Partisan Power

Washington, D.C. (May 20, 2022) — A state legislature cannot make elections and voting rules with impunity, according to a new filing which asks the…

Justice System Reform

Durham Students Rebuke Expected Overturn of Roe v. Wade

Durham, N.C. (May 12, 2022) — Hundreds of North Carolina students walked out of class Thursday at Charles E. Jordan High School and rallied outside…

Justice System Reform

Op-ed: “Rooting Out Racism in McDowell Schools Starts with More Leadership”

Mounting incidents of racism in McDowell County schools are traumatizing our children, and it is past time for the School Board to act.

SCSJ Releases New Report: Invest In Our Children, Invest In our Youth: Ending Youth Criminalization in North Carolina

Invest In Our Children, Invest In our Youth: Ending Youth Criminalization in North Carolina highlights the harms of, and alternatives to, vilifying and incarcerating our…

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Fair Chance Business Re-Launches In Partnership with Community Empowerment Fund

Fair Chance hiring considers an applicant’s qualifications first, without the stigma of a conviction or arrest record. The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) and the Southern…

Southern Coalition for Social Justice Responds to Legislature’s Attack on State Judiciary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2022 In response to a Friday afternoon emergency application to the United States Supreme Court from the North Carolina General…

Voting Rights

TAKE ACTION: Fight the Latest Attack on NC Vote-By-Mail

VICTORY! On July 14, 2022, the North Carolina State Board of Elections rejected the NC GOP’s request to implement a discriminatory “signature-matching” policy. Read our…