61 years later, the bridge in Selma still stands, and so do the ones in Minneapolis, New York, Baltimore, and Atlanta. When we cross them together, democracy grows; when we don’t, authoritarianism does.
https://www.theroot.com/selma-was-not-just-history-it-was-a-warning-2000092686
Bernard Layfette seated and speaking into a microphone, gesturing with one hand. The background includes a red section and a black-and-white photo of people’s legs and shoes.
Yesterday, we lost another giant. Bernard LaFayette, a towering figure of the civil rights movement and a key force behind the Selma voting rights push, has passed at 85. As we mark the Selma anniversary, we honor a life spent building courage, community, and lasting change. Rest in power.
LDF staff
LDF staff
LDF staff
Our staff are the real MVP’s 🏆 This Employee Appreciation Day, we’re taking a moment to highlight our amazing team for their hard work and dedication to advancing racial justice, in and out of the courts!
Reminder: the Selma marches would not have been possible without Black women.
https://www.naacpldf.org/women-of-selma/
If you were denied the right to vote in Texas or elsewhere in recent elections, please take a moment to report what happened by calling 1-865-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) or by filling out information here online. Fixing our elections is a team sport. 866ourvote.org
Letter from EEOLeaders
No matter how hard the EEOC tries to stop DEI, the law has not changed. Companies must protect their employees from discrimination, and that can only happen when DEI efforts are upheld.
Poster for an event by the Legal Defense Fund with the title "We Were Built for This: Refounding Our Democracy." It takes place on March 7 at 4 p.m. Central at Brown Chapel AME Church, 410 Martin Luther King St., Selma, AL. The image features a person speaking at a podium with the words "FIGHT FOR" visible. A background includes a crowd and historical imagery. Social media and livestream details are at the bottom.
This weekend we're celebrating 61 years since brave foot soldiers marched across Alabama for our voting rights. Join us this Saturday, March 7, for our annual Selma Jubilee panel, “We Were Built for This: Refounding Our Democracy."
BIG WIN in our case Banks v. St. James Parish! The court found the district has not met its desegregation obligations and has underinvested in two nearly all‑Black schools. The district must act to ensure every student gets equal opportunity.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4l5qNZT
#OTD in 1991, a video captured LAPD officers brutally beating Rodney King, striking him more than 50 times while he was on the ground. The footage forced the nation to confront long‑reported violence against Black communities and still fuels calls for justice today.
Dallas, learn more here: www.dallascountyvotes.org/vote-centers/
Texas, today’s your final chance to vote in the Primaries. If you haven’t made it to the polls yet, get out there today!
Reminder: Dallas residents, you’re voting at your party’s precinct today!
To learn more about the Texas Primary election and where to vote visit: GOVOTETEXAS.org
Our policy counsel Louis Bedford joins the Progress Texas Podcast to talk about what losing in Louisiana v. Callais could mean for Texans. Voting in Texas still matters. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, make sure you vote tomorrow.
Full podcast: https://bit.ly/3OC6BCX
Image of Claudette Colvin as a child.
#OTD in 1955, 15‑year‑old Claudette Colvin said “nope” to giving up her bus seat, years before the world paid attention. She passed this January at 86, but her bold spirit stays loud. Her courage didn’t just make history; it pushed it forward.
Happy Women's History Month to Ms.Colvin!
This Women's History Month, we’re celebrating the Black women that make it happen no matter what challenges come their way. Black women have shaped every aspect of our history and our culture, and their impact is undeniable. We see you, we love you, and we will always fight for you!
Reminder: the SAVE America Act saves NO ONE!
Photo from Solange Knowles' instagram
Photo from Nikki Nelms’ Instagram
Photo from Nikki Nelms’ Instagram
Before the month wraps, we HAVE to give flowers to the visionary behind these looks. Happy Black History Month to the incomparable Nikki Nelms, who doesn’t just style hair but builds masterpieces.
Georgia landlords are hiding fees from renters, forcing them to pay for services they don’t receive.
Renters deserve full transparency. Georgia lawmakers must put an end to all deceptive practices that worsen the housing affordability crisis.
ICE officers detained Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University student by allegedly posing as police officers searching for a missing child.
No student should fear their safety on or off campus. ICE must be removed from our communities now.
🚨 Yesterday, the EEOC sent a letter to Fortune 500 companies today seeking to end their DEIA programs.
Reminder: the law has not changed. Employers have the power to protect their employees against discrimination.
Black Facts of the Week!
⚫Guy was the first Black American in space
⚫Bessie Coleman was the first Black + Native American woman pilot
⚫Revels was the first Black U.S. Senator
⚫Angelou was San Fran’s first Black woman streetcar operator
⚫T. Marshall was the first Black Supreme Court Justice
Nurul Amin Shah Alam
U.S. Border Patrol failed Nurul Amin Shah Alam.
Protecting our communities does not look like leaving a nearly blind refugee alone miles from his home without notifying his family. We need accountability.
Increasing ICE’s use of body cameras, but letting them choose what footage gets released? That’s not accountability. That’s a surveillance tool meant to hurt immigrants, protestors, and spread propaganda for ICE.
From the courtroom to City Hall. From breaking barriers to making history. #OTD in 1965, Constance Baker Motley became the first woman Manhattan Borough President and proved there’s nothing a Black woman can’t do!
Funding for need‑based aid in Georgia now sits on Governor Brian Kemp’s desk awaiting his signature. Read more about our team's work: www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
Big news from Georgia! Our team helped push the state’s first ever need based aid program forward. The DREAMS Scholarship could send $325M to students who need it most. A huge win for college access and an even bigger win for Georgia’s future.
The SOTU further supported an effort to weaponize the federal government against Black voters and voters of color. The President called on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which will save no one and would further historic discrimination at the polls. Read more: www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
We are calling out the State of the Union address for what it was: a deadly misinformation campaign. From baseless claims about a “fraudulent American election” system to dehumanizing statements on diversity and immigration, the President made no effort to unite the country, only to divide it.
Don't believe the lies: the SAVE America Act is not about protecting our elections, it's rooted in the Trump administration's fear of letting people select their own leaders.
Ending DEI is not something to celebrate. True prosperity comes only when everyone has a seat at the table.
