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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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Farmworkers take on the census

Some new advocates are seeking to spread awareness about the importance of participating in the 2010 Census. Though they have never before been counted, that will soon change for these North Carolina residents. The Eastern North Carolina Complete Count Committee is now working to make sure that these historically undercounted communities are accurately represented in the

Moving forward with the 2010 Census

Five years later, the Gulf Coast is still rebuilding, and to do that, they need resources. This could come through receiving their fair share of more than $400 billion allocated annually in federal funds from the 2010 Census. However, with residents still displaced from their homes after Hurricane Katrina, getting an accurate count to ensure funding is a huge obstacle to conquer. In an effort to combat this, Moving Forward Gulf Coast, Inc., in cooperation with its allies, is supporting Operation Recover and Restore to bring critical funds to the Gulf Coast area. The campaign encourages displaced residents to be counted at their pre-storm residence so that funds are allocated properly and can help in the rebuilding process. As part of their effort, the group has produced a PSA featuring Darnell Dinkins of the NFL. To see this video, check out this link. More resources can be found here. Also, a news story about volunteers spreading the word about the census in the Gulf Coast area is

Why We Count: Preventing an Undercount in the 2010 Census

From A presentation given by SCSJ’s Anita Earls on the importance of counting everyone in the 2010 census. A presentation given by SCSJ’s Anita Earls…

Anita Earls will be a featured census speaker on OPEN/net TV

The goal of the 2010 Census is to count all residents living in the United States as of April 1, 2010. This effort informs decisions about federal funding for services, infrastructure and Congressional representation. The Census is comprised of only 10 questions and takes just a few minutes to complete – but it’s a critical civic exercise. Join representatives from North Carolina’s Complete Count Committee, Bob Coats, the Governor’s Census Liaison and Staff to the North Carolina Complete Count Committee; John Campbell, Executive Director of the North Carolina Human Relations Commission; Greg Richardson, Executive Director of the Commission of Indian Affairs; and Anita Earls, Executive Director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice to talk about the 2010 Census. You can participate in this program by calling 1-888-228-6736. Additionally, you can share your questions and comments by e-mail. Send them before or during the program to open@doa.nc.gov. To find out which channel to use in your county, check out this link.

Environmental Justice Summit in New Hill

On Saturday, March 20, the New Hill Community Association, in conjunction with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, will host a summit on environmental justice and environmental racism at the First Baptist Church New Hill from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Media are invited to attend the summit and asked to be present for a 12:15 p.m. news briefing outside the church, which is adjacent to the site of the prospective sewage treatment plant. Currently Site 14, which is located in the New Hill historic district, is the preferred location for the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facility, causing great concern among New Hill residents and their supporters. The Environmental Justice Summit will focus on the history and legacy of environmental racism in North Carolina, and on environmental consequences that Site 14 will place on the New Hill community. New Hill is a rural, majority-minority community in Western Wake County, located near the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant. Since 2005 residents have been opposing efforts by the Western Wake Partners (an organization comprised of the towns of Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville) to place a wastewater treatment plant in middle of their community. Speakers at the summit will include Gary Grant, Director of the NC Environmental Justice Network, attorney Chris Brook of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Dr. Steve Wing, a UNC Chapel Hill researcher and epidemiologist, Reverend James Clanton of the First Baptist Church New Hill, and Paul Barth, President of the New Hill Community Association. When: March 20 Time: 8:30 a.m. -12 p.m. Where: First Baptist Church New Hill 3016 New Hill Holleman Road New Hill, NC 27562 Environmental injustice - when members of disadvantaged, ethnic, minority, poor or other marginalized groups are disproportionately burdened with environmental hazards or risks for the benefit of affluent, predominately white communities and corporations. For more information visit www.southerncoalition.org or www.newhillca.org

March 15, 2010: Defendant in Lawsuit Regarding an Assault by a Greensboro Security Guard Agrees to Pay Latin King Member $13,500

Greensboro, N.C. - On March 8, 2010, Byron Meadows and Lankford Protective Services, a security agency that contracts with the City of Greensboro, agreed to pay $13,500 to Russel Kilfoil, a member of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN), who was assaulted and detained while waiting for a bus the night of July 2, 2008. Kilfoil was punched in the face by Meadows, a Lankford Protective Services employee. Meadows claimed Kilfoil was smoking in the wrong place at the Depot and displayed an "attitudinal posture." He further claimed he had not punched Kilfoil, but attempted to execute an arm bar, and that this action was justified under the circumstances. Meadows's claims were refuted by the security footage of the event. In December 2008 the Greensboro Human Relations Department concluded that there was reasonable cause to believe that discrimination played a role in the incident. Kilfoil is a young man of Puerto Rican descent. Kilfoil was represented by Southern Coalition for Social Justice staff attorney, Chris Brook free of charge. In December 2008, the Greensboro Collaborative retained the legal services of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, a non-profit community lawyering organization based in Durham, NC. The Greensboro Collaborative is comprised of the Beloved Community Center, the Pulpit Forum, and Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation of Greensboro (ALKQN). One of the Collaborative's primary concerns was continued harassment of the Latin Kings by the Greensboro Police Department's Anti-Gang Task Force. In June 2008, the leader of the Kings, Jorge Cornell, called for peace and an end to violence on the streets of Greensboro. Since that time violence directed at the Kings and harassment by the Anti-Gang Task Force and other law enforcement entities has escalated. Members of the Task Force follow King members home and around town, and have repeatedly harassed members at their places of work - actions that have led to ALKQN members losing their jobs. In March 2009 the Pulpit Forum Clergy and the Beloved Community Center submitted a document to the city entitled "A Paradigm Shift," which Rev. Nelson Johnson describes as follows: "Specifically, it proposed that street groups of young people, some of whom self-identify as gangs, could be seen and worked with as a resource for community safety, community justice, and greater community unity." SCSJ will continue to provide representation to the Greensboro Collaborative and individuals affiliated with the Latin Kings in matters involving police misconduct, discrimination, and violations of human rights Staff attorney Chris Brook stated, "...this is not only an excellent result for Russ, but also sends a clear message to Lankford Protective Services that such treatment of individuals is unacceptable." "SCSJ played a huge role in helping me set right what happened to me as I waited for the bus that evening," said Russell Kilfoil. Contact: Chris Brook, staff attorney; Chris@SCSJ.org; 919.323.3380 ext.111 or 919.928.2444

Improving legal circumstances for those with no legal status

For Edwin Aly Ramirez of Greensboro, his first thought after being arrested on immigration charges was that he would never see his wife and three children again. Mr. Ramirez was asked about his status and arrested after he had gone to court to help translate for a friend. ”I thought I would never get to meet my newborn,” he said. That is the fear — and the daily reality — of 12 million people living in this country. They work in your office, clean your house, go to your school, and tomorrow, they might be gone. Undocumented immigrants do not have the same right to due process and a fair trial afforded U.S. citizens. If immigrants cannot post bond immediately after entering Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, it can dramatically affect their case. Detainees are often accelerated into deportation proceedings, which are difficult to contest because they do not have the right to an attorney if they cannot afford one, face language barriers, and lack access to the documents they need to build their case while in custody. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice partnered with the National Immigrant Bond Fund to combat this injustice and pursue dignity and due process for immigrants. Since September, SCSJ has used the Bond Fund to help seven families, including Edwin’s, by providing zero interest matching loans to immigrants who cannot afford to pay full bond. The Fund may play only a small role in the overall fight for human rights, but it has a dramatic and tangible impact on immigrant families. “When immigrants are detained without being able to pay their bond, they are denied the ability to fully defend their right to stay in this country, which often unjustly results in their being deported without being able to see their families or tie up outstanding obligations,” said SCSJ staff attorney Marty Rosenbluth. Edwin chokes up when he recalls his relief at seeing his three children after being released on bond. “I just want them to have a good life; a good education.” For more information check out SCSJ’swebsite.

Lawsuit involving Latin King and Security Guard Settled

A lawsuit involving an altercation between a public transit patron and a private security officer at the Depot in July 2008 has been settled out of court. Russell Kilfoil, a member of the Latin Kings street organization, filed suit against security officer Byron Meadows and Lankford Protective services last June, alleging he was assaulted, battered and falsely imprisoned by Meadows, and alleging that the security company breached its duty by failing to sufficiently investigate and discipline its employee’s conduct. Chris Brook, a lawyer with the Durham-based Southern Coalition for Social Justice who represented Kilfoil, said defendants have agreed to pay his client $13,500. Brooks said he understands that the majority of the payout will come from Lankford’s protective services. The coalition represented Kilfoil free of charge and with the exception of a small portion to cover expenses, Brooks said his client will receive the vast majority of the settlement money. “We’re very happy with the terms of the settlement, but this case was never about money for either Russell Kilfoil or the Southern Coalition for Social Justice,” Brook said. “This case was about trying to ensure that Lankford Protective Services thinks twice about how they treat patrons at the bus terminal and throughout Guilford County, especially patrons of color. Russell Kilfoil was just trying to catch a bus that night. The situation was entirely unacceptable, and I think the terms of the settlement reflect that.” Sam Lankford, co-owner of Lankford Protective Services, could not be immediately contacted for comment. Assistant City Manager Michael Speedling, who oversees the private security company’s contract, said that all institutional changes took place soon after the incident. “It had to do with tightening reporting procedures and continuing education in post-order requirements,” he said. “Our post-orders relate to how an individual will respond to incidents, when they can and cannot put hands on persons, and can and cannot make arrests.” Speedling said a determination of whether Meadows would have been justified in arresting Kilfoil depends on whose story you believe. “I wasn’t present during this situation,” Speedling said. “The failure was that Officer Meadows initiated the process of arrest by placing the handcuffs on him and did not follow through. He decided that he was going to give this individual a break, and did not go through with taking him before a magistrate. That created a problem.” A December 2008 investigation by the Greensboro Human Relations Department concluded that there was reasonable cause to believe that discrimination was at play in the incident based on Kilfoil’s Latino national origin, in conjunction with his age and gender. A Guilford County jury deadlocked last November over a misdemeanor assault charge against Meadows. Meadows was banned from working on city property in late 2008, but has remained employed by Lankford. Brooks said he recently encountered him working security at the Alamance County Courthouse in Graham.

Wake Co. Residents Meet To Oppose Cary Sewage Facility

WAKE COUNTY - On Saturday, March 20th, a group of residents in the New Hill community will host a meeting that will highlight the group’s opposition to a proposed waste water treatment plant in their community. The event is being organized by the New Hill Community Association, in conjunction with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network. The event will be held at the First Baptist Church at 3016 New Hill Holleman Road in the Wake County community of New Hill from 9am to 12pm noon. Media are invited to attend the summit and asked to be present for a 12:15 news briefing outside the church, which is adjacent to the site of the prospective sewage treatment plant. The event will also be a “summit on environmental justice and environmental racism,” say organizers. The Environmental Justice Summit will focus on the history and legacy of environmental racism in North Carolina, and on environmental consequences that Site 14 will place on the New Hill community, say organizers. Organizers say that “Site 14,” which is located in the New Hill historic district, is the preferred location for the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facility. The proposal to put the facility in the area is “causing great concern among New Hill residents and their supporters.” New Hill is a rural community in Western Wake County, located near the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant. According to the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, the residents around the New Hill site are being treated unfairly because of their socioenomic status. “There are clear environmental injustices in this case,” says the group on their website. “The population surrounding the site is upwards of 75% ethnic/racial minorities.” In addition, even though the plant would be next door, the local residents would not receive sewage services. “Ironically, the community does not currently have access to sewer services, and only the property that is directly adjacent to the plant would be connected to it,” says the coalition. Since 2005, residents have been opposing efforts by the Western Wake Partners, an organization comprised of the towns of Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Morrisville, to place a wastewater treatment plant in middle of their community. Those opposed to the plant say that those residents in those towns who will benefit from the plant are nowhere near it. “Towns represented in Western Wake Partners are all far from the borders of New Hill,” says the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Speakers at the summit will include Gary Grant, Director of the NC Environmental Justice Network and attorney Chris Brook of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Also speaking will be Dr. Steve Wing, a UNC Chapel Hill researcher and epidemiologist, Reverend James Clanton of the First Baptist Church New Hill, and Paul Barth, President of the New Hill Community Association.

March 8, 2010: Rural Wake Co. Community Invites Citizens and Elected Officials to a March 20 Environmental Justice Summit to Discuss the Impacts of a Prospective Sewage Treatment Plant & Incinerator

New Hill, N.C. - On Saturday, March 20, the New Hill Community Association, in conjunction with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, will host a summit on environmental justice and environmental racism at the First Baptist Church New Hill from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Media are invited to attend the summit and asked to be present for a 12:15 news briefing outside the church, which is adjacent to the site of the prospective sewage treatment plant. Currently Site 14, which is located in the New Hill historic district, is the preferred location for the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facility, causing great concern among New Hill residents and their supporters. The Environmental Justice Summit will focus on the history and legacy of environmental racism in North Carolina, and on environmental consequences that Site 14 will place on the New Hill community. New Hill is a rural, majority-minority community in Western Wake County, located near the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant. Since 2005 residents have been opposing efforts by the Western Wake Partners (an organization comprised of the towns of Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville) to place a wastewater treatment plant in middle of their community. Speakers at the summit will include Gary Grant, Director of the NC Environmental Justice Network, attorney Chris Brook of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Dr. Steve Wing, a UNC Chapel Hill researcher and epidemiologist, Reverend James Clanton of the First Baptist Church New Hill, and Paul Barth, President of the New Hill Community Association. When: March 20, 2010 Time: 8:30 AM -12:00 PM Where: First Baptist Church New Hill 3016 New Hill Holleman Road New Hill, NC 27562 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environmental injustice - when members of disadvantaged, ethnic, minority, poor or other marginalized groups are disproportionately burdened with environmental hazards or risks for the benefit of affluent, predominately white communities and corporations. www.southerncoalition.org www.newhillca.org Contact: Elena Everett, Southern Coalition for Social Justice (919) 323-3380x112; Elena@southerncoalition.org Paul Barth, President, New Hill Community Association (919) 362-7905; NCDeerHunter29@aol.com Rev. James Clanton, New Hill First Baptist Church (919) 218-4066; clantonjames@bellsouth.net