FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, September 18, 2019 For media inquiries: media@scsj.org The Southern Coalition for Social Justice is elated to announce that Myesha Braden has joined the staff as Chief Counsel for its new Justice System Reform program. Braden brings exemplary civil rights and criminal justice experience to the Southern Coalition following more than a decade […]
Settlement of Case Involving Preventable Teen Suicide in Durham County Jail to Lead to Significant Policy Changes
DURHAM, N.C. – Two years after 17-year-old Uniece Fennell took her own life in the Durham County Detention Center, a lawsuit brought by her family has resulted in a settlement agreement containing significant policy changes and protections for youth detained and in the custody of the County. The lawsuit and settlement agreement were filed simultaneously with […]
Statements from SCSJ Regarding Passage of the FIRST STEP Act in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives approved the FIRST STEP Act (S. 756) today, one day after the U.S. Senate passed the legislation on a broad bipartisan vote. The FIRST STEP Act, an acronym that stands for Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act, includes provisions that will, among things: […]
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Subpoenas Local Election Boards for Troves of Information in Apparent Fishing Expedition, Undermining 2018 Election Administration
RALEIGH, N.C.– Assistant U.S. Attorney Sebastian Kielmanovich recently issued subpoenas to Boards of Elections in all 44 counties in North Carolina’s Federal Eastern District on behalf of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While the exact timing of the issuance of the subpoenas is not clear, they became public knowledge on September […]
Statement Regarding Alamance County Voters Accused of Voting While Ineligible
GRAHAM, N.C. – Five voters represented by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) charged with voting while ineligible accepted plea deals to lesser charges in Alamance County Superior Court today. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped all felony voting-related charges. SCSJ clients Anthony Haith, Neko Rogers, Whitney Brown, Keith Sellars and Willie Vinson, […]
Mother of Niecey Fennell Speaks Out on Critical Safety Issues at Durham Detention Center
Durham, N.C. — Attorneys for the family of Uniece “Niecey” Fennell, who was found deceased, hanging in the Durham County Detention Facility (DCDF) in March 2017, have again called upon the Durham County Board of Commissioners to address critical safety issues at the facility in the county’s 2018-19 fiscal budget. Adding to remarks made at […]
Press Release: Civil Rights Groups Sue North Carolina DMV For Revoking Driver’s Licenses of People Who Cannot Pay Traffic Tickets
Taking licenses from people who cannot pay violates the U.S. Constitution, lawsuit says RALEIGH, N.C. –The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has revoked the licenses of hundreds of thousands of people simply because they cannot afford to pay traffic fines and court costs. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the American Civil Liberties […]
Statement from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice Regarding the Dismissal of Charges for the Protesters Charged with Toppling Confederate Monument in Durham
On February 20, 2018, Durham District Attorney Roger Echols announced that he was dismissing the charges against protesters charged with toppling the Confederate monument outside of the old Durham County Courthouse in August 2017. The decision came the day after the first three protesters to stand trial had their cases dismissed or were acquitted. Whitley Carpenter, part of […]