Thursday, July 16, 2015 | news
Read the PDF of our joint statement here. The American Bar Association and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. have long and proud traditions of fighting for civil rights, human rights and equal justice. Although, over the years, we have celebrated much progress in these arenas, we are now confronted by a troubling and […]
Friday, February 3, 2017 | news
Read the PDF of our statement here Release of ABA Building Public Trust Task Force Report Comes at Critical Time for Criminal Justice Reform Statement of NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. Today, the American Bar Association approved the report of its Task Force on Building Public Trust in the American Justice System, which […]
Friday, October 22, 2010 | news
Many Americans believed the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president heralded the zenith of the civil rights movement and ushered in a color-blind society. Two years later that assumption is being questioned. John Payton “We need to get past the euphoria of November 2008 and see the problems we still have,” […]
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 | staff
Aashka Merchant is the Chief of Staff at the Legal Defense Fund. In this role, she leads the ongoing review and alignment of organizational strategy with leadership priorities and key performance indicators, manages key organization-wide projects, and facilitates strategic engagement with critical internal and external stakeholders. She has devoted her career to human rights, both […]
Tuesday, December 23, 2014 | news
2014 has been a year of challenges and opportunities in the battle for racial justice. In the courts and in community meetings, on panels and in convenings, through media and reports, and before Congress, LDF has been on the front lines pushing for change. We also celebrated the 60th Anniversary of LDF’s iconic victory in […]
Monday, February 18, 2013 | news
Over fifteen years ago, I survived a tragic shooting in which I lost a dear friend. I now find myself pleading to spare the life of another beloved friend – Duane Buck, the person responsible for nearly taking my life. Duane is scheduled to be put to death in Texas in a matter of days despite appeals […]
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 | news
African American leaders join in promoting a series of recommendations to address the fatal shooting of Michael Brown and to prevent future fatal shootings of unarmed African American teenagers Media Teleconference Tuesday, August 19th, 2 p.m. EST Call in: 866-952-1907 Conference ID: Ferguson– RSVP Encouraged WASHINGTON, D.C., August 19, 2014 — National civil and human […]
Friday, October 5, 2012 | news
I’ve always believed that the sign of a truly educated person is exhibited by their ability to synthesize seemingly unrelated events and come up with a perceptive insight. Allow me to try and add one based on recent events in New York’s education system. Read the full article on the Huffington Post.
Saturday, June 4, 2016 | news
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) deeply mourns the passing of our former client Muhammad Ali, one of the most powerful, charismatic and inspiring figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. In 1970 LDF represented Mr. Ali in Ali v. Division of State Athletic Comm’n, and the following year in Clay v. […]
Monday, August 13, 2018 | news
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) mourns the loss of Sheila Y. Thomas, who was a member of LDF’s inaugural class of Skadden Fellows. An accomplished attorney who litigated countless employment discrimination cases over her decades-long career, Thomas also worked as a spiritual counselor, viewing religious practice as inseparable from the pursuit […]
