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Voting Rights

Southern Coalition for Social Justice Leads National Initiative To Combat Criminalization of the Ballot Box

Durham, N.C. — As part of its ongoing work to protect voting rights and eliminate barriers for people with past involvement with the criminal justice system, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice recently hosted a national convening to launch its new initiative to address growing efforts to criminalize voting among certain populations, including minorities and individuals with a felony record.
Voting Rights

Plaintiffs in North Carolina Voter ID Lawsuit Seek Documents On Legislative Motivations Behind Challenged Law

Durham, N.C. — Plaintiffs in Holmes v. Moore, a lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s voter ID requirements (S.B. 824), filed a motion in Wake County Superior Court earlier today asking a judge to compel the General Assembly to release communications between legislators and General Assembly staff relating to the design of and motivations behind S.B. 824. The motion also requests access to any other materials outside of the public legislative record that the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate used when drafting the statute. State legislators have previously refused to turn over these documents as part of the lawsuit’s discovery process, citing legislative privilege.
General

Southern Coalition for Social Justice Confirms Three New Board Members

Durham, N.C. — The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) is delighted to announce that Dr. Andra Gillespie, Lisa Jones and Susan Price will join its board of directors, effective immediately. All three of these dynamic women are exceedingly accomplished in their areas of expertise and have a great passion for social justice work and will help reinforce the SCSJ’s regional focus and further develop its expansive programming.
Youth Justice Project

SCSJ Celebrates Continued Progress in Winston-Salem Following Dept. of Education Complaint

SCSJ and community partners celebrate a win for students and parents of Ashley Elementary after a panel of the Winston-Salem City Council voted unanimously to recommend the sale of city-owned property that will serve as the site of a new school to replace Ashley Elementary. The recommendation is slated to go before the full City Council for consideration on October 21.
General

The Southern Coalition Announces Meredith Horton As Deputy Executive Director

Durham, N.C.— The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) is proud to announce that Meredith Horton, a seasoned attorney and accomplished leader in the social justice community, will join the organization as its Deputy Executive Director. Meredith brings to this position more than 15 years of organizing, legal advocacy, program management and grant-making experience on a range of social justice issues. In this new role, Meredith will assume a portfolio of leadership responsibilities that include helping with organizational strategy, staff development, along with budget and operational systems. Her appointment begins October 21.
Voting Rights

SCSJ Represents Democracy North Carolina in Amicus Brief Urging State Court to Reject State’s Proposed Remedy Maps

Late Friday, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice submitted an amicus brief on behalf of Democracy North Carolina urging a three-judge state court panel in Common Cause v. Lewis to reject the “remedial” State Senate and House redistricting plans enacted by the General Assembly a little over a week ago. SCSJ and Democracy NC argued that those plans fail to eliminate the partisan bias that led the court to invalidate the prior plans as unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders.
Youth Justice Project

Youth Justice Project Releases SRO Recommendations

Durham, NC — Members of the Youth Justice Project’s Youth Steering Committee (YSC) released a series of recommendations for Durham Public Schools and the Durham County…