Do you care about issues facing your community? Want to share your perspective with a broader audience? Have you ever wanted to write an op-ed, but didn’t know how to start? The Working Group in Feminism & History at UNC-Chapel Hill and Women AdvaNCe present a FREE Op-ed Training Saturday, March 22, 2014 • 9:00 […]
Voting Rights Hearing 2/21/14
Background: On August 12, 2013, The Southern Coalition for Social Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, and ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s newly enacted voter suppression law, HB 589. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several North Carolinians who will face substantial hardship under the law, and on […]
On February 8, all roads lead to Raleigh for the Moral March
On Saturday, Feb. 8, thousands of people from all walks of life who oppose a regressive vision for the state will gather for the Moral March on Raleigh. It could be one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in the South in 50 years. A broad coalition brought together by the North Carolina NAACP will […]
In NC, Voter Suppression Hits Women & People of Color Hardest.
It’s 2014, and North Carolina’s Monster Voter Suppression bill is beginning to go into effect. While people are NOT required to show a photo ID in order to vote in 2014 elections, precincts WILL be asking you whether or not you have a valid photo ID. Even if you say no they still have to […]
Resolutions for stronger communities
At SCSJ, we work every day to empower communities of color and economically disadvantaged people. At this time of reexamining our priorities and resolving to move forward in the best possible way, we asked our allies in the social justice community for their resolutions for 2014. Here are some of our favorites (as well as […]
Five much-needed reforms that could make our politics matter again
Five Much-Needed Reforms That Could Make Our Politics Matter Again (via Moyers & Company) This post originally appeared at The Nation. “We have frequently printed the word Democracy. Yet I cannot too often repeat, that it is a word the real gist of which still sleeps, quite unawakened,” wrote Walt Whitman in Democratic Vistas. “It…
Happy Outcome for Durham Homeless Does Not Absolve City Council and Police of Moral Responsibility for Panhandling Arrests
The Durham Police have endured considerable criticism in recent months for a series of high-profile shootings and revelations about the department’s controversial stop-and-search practices, which statistics show amount to a pattern and practice of racial profiling against black motorists. Now the department’s treatment of the city’s most vulnerable citizens—its homeless population—is also drawing fire, in […]
Gerrymandering: "American Horribleness" right here at home
On December 10, 2013, The Daily Show ran a piece on election gerrymandering called “American Horribleness.” The Daily Show Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook While gerrymandering of voting districts is an issue at the national level as discussed in the skit, it is also an issue in state and […]
Giving back without going broke during the holidays
Happy holidays! This is the time of year when many Americans will be making charitable donations, and we’d like to share some exciting news. First, thanks to a generous matching gift by a former SCSJ client, all donations made to SCSJ until December 10 will be DOUBLED! Click here to participate in our special […]
Making the holiday season about more than just shopping
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice has joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. Coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year 12/03/2013) will encourage people to give to […]
Durham civil rights legend supports the work of FADE
Reflections by Ann G. Atwater* On Tuesday, October 1st, a standing room only crowd filled City Council chambers to address Durham’s Human Relations Commission. At Mayor Bell’s direction, the Commission heard concerns raised by FADE, a new coalition of individuals and neighborhood groups committed to Fostering Alternatives to Drug Enforcement. FADE also made specific recommendations […]
10 Vital Programs that Cost Less in a Year than Shutting Down the Government
10 Vital Programs that Cost Less in a Year than Shutting Down the Government Has Cost Taxpayers So Far Posted on October 11, 2013 | Repost. Article originally published by the National Women’s Law Center Katherine Gallagher Robbins, Senior Policy Analyst The National Priorities Project reports that shutting down the government costs about $6.667 million […]
Federal shutdown shows North Carolina's true colors
The National Women’s Law Center has produced a concise report of vital programs for women and children that cost less in a year than the government shutdown has cost taxpayers in the last 2 weeks. What’s the Effect in North Carolina? Last Tuesday, the News and Observer reported that North Carolina had declared a lack […]
Montravias King: first the right to run, then election victory!
SCSJ congratulates voting rights client Montravias King, a senior at Elizabeth City State University, on being elected to city council in Elizabeth City, NC. Mr. King finished in first place in Ward 4 with enough votes to prevent a runoff, according to the Daily Advance. King was the highest vote-getter in a field of seven. At […]
Voting Goes Viral – using social media to spread the word about NC's 10/11/13 registration deadline
The best way to make our voices heard is to participate in every election. Many people skip voting in off-year municipal elections because they think local elections don’t matter. But many times it is local officials that make policies with the most impact on our everyday lives in areas including criminal justice reform, environmental justice, […]
Durham residents organize to stop racial profiling by police
In response to FADE’s ongoing efforts to bring to light troubling reports of racial disparities and bias in the Durham Police Department, Mayor Bell convened the Human Relations Commission on Tuesday October 1, 2013 to hear from the community. As the meeting commenced, there was a palpable sense of urgency and somberness among the packed […]
Durham FADE challenges discriminatory police practices
Durham has been portrayed as one of the most tolerant cities in America, one of the best places to retire, and home to a rich, diverse community. Many Durham residents, however, see a different reality than that on the travel brochures. The “real” Durham, they say, is also characterized by a systemic sickness within its […]
Free Webinar: Next Steps to Protect Your Right to Vote
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice believes that now is the time to unite and build a collective grassroots action to challenge the recent changes to the Voting Rights Act. Join us on September 25 for a free webinar to learn about the impact of the Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act, […]