Entries by Dustin Chicurel-Bayard

Legislative Leaders Decline to Appeal Ruling of Unconstitutional Redistricting in Wake County State House Districts

February 18, 2019 /in , , , /by

RALEIGH, N.C. – On February 15, 2019, legislative defendants filed a notice withdrawing their appeal of a Superior Court ruling that found the 2017 redistricting of four Wake County House districts to be unconstitutional.  In November 2018, a three-judge panel found that the redistricting changes violated the North Carolina Constitution’s prohibition on mid-decade redistricting.  The court’s order […]

Racial Equity Report Cards Continue to Show Disparities in Achievement and Discipline

January 18, 2019 /in , , , /by

This year’s report cards include teacher diversity statistics for the first time Durham, N.C. — The 2019 Annual Racial Equity Report Cards released by the Youth Justice Project of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice reveal significant racial disproportionality across the state and in most individual school districts. The report cards use public data on academic achievement, school […]

U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear North Carolina and Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Challenges

January 4, 2019 /in , , , /by

Justices have an opportunity this term to ensure fair maps nationwide by striking down Republican and Democratic redistricting plans   WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments in March 2019 in a challenge to North Carolina’s 2016 congressional map, which is one of the most egregious partisan gerrymanders in American history. It will also […]

Statement Regarding the Investiture of Anita Earls to the North Carolina Supreme Court

January 3, 2019 /in , , , , /by

RALEIGH, N.C. – Anita Earls was sworn in today as the 100th Justice to sit on the North Carolina Supreme Court in an investiture ceremony this afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Earls, founding Executive Director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, was elected to the seat in November. Kareem Crayton, Interim Executive Director of […]

New North Carolina Voter ID Law Immediately Challenged by Voters

December 19, 2018 /in , , , /by

Six voters challenging the state’s new photo ID requirements filed a lawsuit minutes after the regulations became law.  The complaint was filed in Wake County Superior Court along with a motion requesting a preliminary injunction, asking the court to halt the implementation of the law until the case can be heard in court.  State lawmakers […]

Youth Justice Project: Federal Commission on School Safety Recommends Scrapping Anti-Discrimination Guidance Implemented During Obama Administration

December 18, 2018 /in , , /by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Federal Commission on School Safety has released its final report, which includes a recommendation that the DOE and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) rescind guidance issued in 2014 aimed at ensuring educational agencies comply with federal obligations to administer student discipline without discriminating based on race, […]

House Districts in Wake County Found Unconstitutional

November 2, 2018 /in , , , /by

Districts ordered to be redrawn in the next regular legislative session for use in 2020     RALEIGH – A three-judge state court panel today issued a unanimous ruling declaring four state House Districts in Wake County to be unconstitutional.  The panel agreed that the unnecessary redrawing of state House Districts 36, 37, 40, and 41 […]

Video Series Highlights Voters Who Could be Impacted by Voter ID Requirements

October 10, 2018 /in , , , /by

  DURHAM, N.C. – Five videos released today by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice are the first installment of a campaign that’s aimed at educating voters about who may be disenfranchised if a state constitutional amendment requiring photo identification to vote is approved in this November’s election.  The “What’s at Stake” video series highlights […]

Civil Rights Organizations Urge U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session to Withdraw Subpoenas for Massive Amount of Voter Records and Information

September 26, 2018 /in , , , , /by

DURHAM, N.C. – A coalition of national, regional, and state-based civil rights organizations has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging the withdrawal of recently issued subpoenas in North Carolina that sought millions of voter records in the state.  The letter makes it clear that the subpoenas: Target people of color, immigrants, and […]

Know Your Voting Rights – Post Hurricane Florence

September 24, 2018 /in , , , , /by

In the wake of natural disasters, voters frequently get displaced from their homes. That does not mean that these voters lose their right to vote and have their political voices heard. Survivors of Hurricane Florence who have been forced from their homes because of the storm and subsequent flooding have several options available to them […]