Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Partnering with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the south to defend and advance their political, social and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing and communications.

SCSJ, Civil Rights Groups File Federal Lawsuit to Block Racially Discriminatory Redistricting in Texas

Austin, T.X. (November 16, 2021) — Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, Fair Maps Texas Action Committee v. Abbott, challenging new Texas state legislative and Congressional district plans as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders violating both the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. The suit details an inadequate redistricting process lacking transparency, which led to discriminatory […]

Court of Appeals Restores Same-Day Registration and Provisional Ballots in N.C.

On October 1, 2014  the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision of Federal District Judge Schroeder, restoring same-day registration and out-of-precinct provisional ballots for North Carolina voters. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) and the ACLU represented plaintiffs including the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, the NC A. Philip Randolph […]

Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments on North Carolina's Restrictive Voting Law

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments today on North Carolina’s restrictive voting law and whether key provisions can go into effect before the midterm election. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice are challenging provisions that eliminate a week of early voting, end same-day registration, […]

NC's voting battle is headed for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on Thursday, September 25, on North Carolina’s restrictive voting law. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) and the American Civil Liberties union (ACLU) are challenging provisions of the law that eliminate a week of early voting, end same-day registration, and prohibit out-of-precinct voting. SCSJ and […]

SCSJ to Battle Voter Suppression in Monday Hearing

On Monday, July 7, Southern Coalition for Social Justice’s Allison Riggs will partner with the American Civil Liberties Union to present arguments in federal court asking that North Carolina’s voter suppression law be placed on hold for the 2014 midterm elections. Riggs is the lead attorney in this case, League of Women Voters of North […]

SCSJ, ACLU Ask Federal Court to Put N.C. Voter Suppression Law on Hold

Southern Coalition for Social Justice, ACLU Ask Federal Court to Put N.C. Voter Suppression Law on Hold for Midterm Election May 20, 2014 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice have asked a federal court to put North Carolina’s voter suppression law on hold for the 2014 midterm […]

More progress in NC voting rights case

More progress in NC voting rights case Late in the afternoon on May 15, 2014 U.S. District Court Judge Schroeder upheld a magistrate’s ruling ordering North Carolina state lawmakers to release some e-mails and other documents related to the passage of the state’s sweeping voter suppression law. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern […]

NC Voting Rights: Judge says NC lawmakers can't ignore subpoenas

RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal trial judge declined Thursday to side with North Carolina lawmakers who believe they are not required to provide documents to groups seeking answers about how a disputed elections-overhaul law was passed. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder upheld the March decision of a magistrate judge who told General […]

Federal Court Orders N.C. Lawmakers to Release E-Mail Related to Passage of State's Sweeping Voter Suppression Law

Federal Court Orders N.C. Lawmakers to Release E-Mail Related to Passage of State’s Sweeping Voter Suppression Law FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2014 CONTACT: Shoshannah Sayers, SCSJ, 919-323-3380, ext. 154; ShoshannahSayers@southerncoalition.org Inga Sarda-Sorensen, ACLU National, 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org Mike Meno, ACLU of North Carolina, 919-834-3466, mmeno@acluofnc.org WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A federal court today ordered North Carolina state […]

SCSJ & ACLU Lawsuit challenging voting law will go to trial after 2014 elections

A federal judge today ruled that a trial over North Carolina’s sweeping voter suppression law will be held in 2015. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Joi Peake also said the court would hear requests this summer for an injunction to halt some or all of the law’s provisions from taking effect until after the trial. […]