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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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Protecting Our Vote

On Sunday, June 5, Democracy North Carolina held a conference in Durham led by Adam Sotak to discuss developing bills that are threatening equal voting rights. If passed, these NC bills will:
  • Require voters to show a government-issued photo ID when they vote. This will create a new barrier to voting for 450,000 NC citizens, mostly seniors, low-income voters, women, youth and African Americans.
  • End Sunday voting, even though 37,000 citizens used it in 2008. This will explicitly affect African American churches and the Souls to the Polls campaign.
  • Reduce the days and hours in the Early Voting period, even though 60 percent of all NC voters used this option in 2008.
  • Stop voters from registering during Early Voting by eliminating Same-Day Registration, a right used by 250,000 NC voters in 2008.
  • Stop pre-registration for teenagers, even though 37,500 future voters used the program in 2010 to signal their desire to be active citizens.
  • End the NC Public Campaign Fund that gives voters more diversity in their choice of top judges and provides statewide judicial candidates a way to run without accepting big donations from special interests.
    • To take action, contact your legislators at 919.733.4111 and tell them that you oppose these changes, or visit www.democracy-nc.org for more ways to get involved. Information courtesy of Democracy North Carolina.

SCSJ Files Injunction Against Greensboro City Council

UPDATE: Exhibit E has been added to the documents below. A complaint and request for declaratory relief has also been added, as well as a motion for a temporary restraining order. Contact: May 31 , 2011 Chris Brook: 919 - 323 – 3380 ext. 113 chrisbrook@southerncoalition.org **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** SCSJ Files Injunction Against Greensboro City Council GREENSBORO, NC—The Southern Coalition for Social Justice has filed an injunction in Guilford County Superior Court against the Greensboro City Council to prevent it from entering into a contract with a private company for the operation of the White Street Landfill. The council is moving forward with its plan after being warned of its legal obligations by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Phase III of the White Street Landfill is expected to reach its capacity within the next four years. Since the city intends to enter into a contract for a minimum fifteen years, expanding the landfill and new permits will be required. Future phases would qualify as “new sanitary landfills”; in order to open a new sanitary landfill, the council is required under North Carolina General Statute 160A-325 to consider other sites, hold a public hearing and consider socioeconomic data. So far the council has proceeded in spite of city residents rather than with their support. “I’m really disappointed with the council. It’s not listening to the citizens,” said Goldie Wells, a leader in Citizens for Economic and Environmental Justice, as well as a former member of the Greensboro City Council from 2005 to 2009. “It’s a betrayal of trust. It changed in 2001, then all the changes in 2006; now to come back 5 years later and change it again, it causes mistrust.” CEEJ is one of the complainants in the case, along with the League of Women Voters and several residents of the neighborhood near the proposed landfill. The city has failed to comply with the statute potentially to the detriment of its residents. The council will make a decision with serious costs, in the form of lost tax revenue, property value, environmental and health costs. The issue that will bring the case to court, however, is its failure to make its decision in accordance to state law. “Other cities are looking at what we’re doing—having meeting for 5-7hours, 15 speakers against and then going forward with the same decision,” said Wells, frustrated with the insistence of the council to reopen the landfill against the protest of area residents. “It’s ridiculous, to tell you the truth.” ### The Southern Coalition for Social Justice is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in August, 2007 in Durham, North Carolina by a multi-disciplinary group, predominantly people of color, who believe that families and communities engaged in social justice struggles need a team of lawyers, social scientists, community organizers and media specialists to support them in their efforts to dismantle structural racism and oppression. NOTE: Exhibits A-X are available below. Exhibits Y and Z from Waste Industries are available from the Greensboro City website: Exhibit Y Exhibit Z Request for Declaratory Relief Motion for Temporary Restraining Order

Rally in Raleigh this Thursday against NC DOMA

The Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA), GetEQUAL NC and otehr groups fighting for LGBTQ rights are organizing a rally for this coming Thursday (June 2) against SB106 and HB777, the North Carolina counterpart to the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Read their press release below: Contacts: Jonathan Green President, Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) Boone, NC Phone: 336-404-7147 Email: jsg47235@yahoo.com Angel Chandler North Carolina State Organizer, GetEQUAL Asheville, NC Phone: 828-337-1292 Email: angel@getequalnc.org Rally in Raleigh For Equality On June 2, 2011 from Noon - 2:00 PM North Carolina based groups Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) and GetEQUAL NC unite with other groups and individuals to fight SB106 and HB777 (the North Carolina anti-gay super-DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) on June 2, 2011. We will gather at the Halifax Mall at 16 W. Jones Street in Raleigh at Noon. SB106 and HB777 must be stopped and it is up to LGBT groups, individuals, and allies to do so. The proposed legislation would not only put an anti-gay marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot, it would also prevent private businesses and municipalities in NC from offering domestic partnership insurance benefits and make null and void Domestic Partnership Registries in the three cities in NC that offer them (Chapel Hill, Asheville and Carrboro); basically, it would end all relationship recognition outside of heterosexual marriage. According to Jonathan Green, President of SAGA, "In this time of misunderstanding and struggle it is important that there are those who are beacons of light, truth, and understanding and I am standing as one of those beacons and want you to join me and allow the only sovereign to rule you to be reason so that truth can finally take hold and prevail over those who want us to remain unequal so that we can be recognized for what we are, human beings who want and need to be recognized as equal citizens across our wonderful state!" Angel Chandler, North Carolina State Organizer for GetEQUAL NC, stated "You've heard the saying 'If you are not outraged you're not paying attention', but outrage is easy, action is hard. We have to be willing to do more than sign a petition or send in an email to our representatives. We have to be willing to take action. On June 2cd we will take a stand to let our North Carolina lawmakers know that we refuse to be even further alienated from and discriminated by our government. We are all equal, and it is time our government started treating us as such." Our message to NC legislators: we are your neighbors, your doctors, your lawyers, your teachers, your child care providers, your mothers, your fathers, your sons, your daughters, your brothers, your sisters. We are your constituents. We are your fellow human beings. We deserve more and will no longer settle for less than equality. - ‘Rally in Raleigh’ speakers include: Rep. Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe) Rep. Patsy Keever (D-Buncombe) Chelsea Sayre, GetEQUAL NC Angel Chandler, GetEqual NC Jonathan Green, SAGA * More speakers to be announced * Rally in Raleigh For Equality! Thursday, June 2, 12:00 – 2:00 PM Halifax Mall 16 W. Jones Street Raleigh, NC

Redistricting and what you can do

On May 25, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice executive director Anita Earls spoke at the America Healing conference about the importance of community engagement and redistricting issues. Redistricting, or regrouping people within newly drawn district lines, has a large impact on whose voices are given representation and can directly affect the outcome of elections. In light of the recent census, fair redistricting has become a pressing issue. In response, SCSJ has highlighted some key ways to involve individuals and communities in making certain that the lines are drawn in a way that ensures fair and equal representation for the next ten years. 1) Know the options. SCSJ utilizes a mapping software called Maptitude to draw sample districts that show what representation would look like with each option. Organizations with staff members who are familiar with this software can access the program remotely, or an SCSJ cartographer can offer assistance and alternative options. For more information, contact allison@southerncoalition.org. 2) Ask the right questions. What will be the procedures and process for redrawing the district lines and are they written? If the process hasn't been decided, who will decide, and when, and how? Who are the staff people who will be involved in analyzing Census data to assist with redrawing the lines? SCSJ can provide a more complete list of questions and assist in interpreting the answers. 3) Host a forum to educate the community. Contact SCSJ to see if a staff member would be available to provide resources and expertise regarding the importance of knowing and advocating for redistricting rights. 4) Attend a public hearing. Lawmakers are more likely to respond to an engaged community. For more information go to http://redistrictinginstitute.org/.

Group wants Durham to 'ban the box'

From The Durham Second Chance Alliance showed up at the May 16 city council meeting to urge council-members to pass a “Ban the Box” ordinance,…

Judge Greg Mathis: stop discrimination against ex-offenders

Judge Greg Mathis, formerly the youngest person to ever hold the post of superior court judge in Michigan, as well as the host of the popular court show Judge Mathis, has written an op-ed about employment discrimination against ex-offenders in Electronic Urban Report. According to Mathis: "Every year, more than 700,000 people are released from state and federal prisons: they all need to find work so that they may support themselves and their families, contribute to their communities and to ensure poverty, frustration and desperation don’t force them to return to a life of crime." SCSJ has been promoting a fair hiring campaign to "Ban the Box", which would remove at the initial state of the employment process questions that ask whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime or been incarcerated . Durham has also recently considered passing an ordinance against this form of discrimination in order to help residents get jobs "based on their current credentials rather than their past indiscretions."

Landfill equation more than just math

From In a recent editorial column, Yes! Weekly voices their opposition to reopening the White Street Landfill to municipal solid waste, encouraging a regional solution…