Read a PDF of our statement here.
LDF Statement on Court’s Dismissal of Alabama Voter ID Lawsuit
Today, U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler issued a ruling dismissing the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) lawsuit in Greater Birmingham Ministries v. Alabama, a challenge to Alabama’s photo ID law. LDF President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill issued the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed by the judge’s ruling dismissing our case before trial. Over the course of two years, we have developed a sound case demonstrating that Alabama’s voter ID law is racially discriminatory. We had hoped to present our full case at trial next month. We have no intention of abandoning our commitment to protecting the rights of African-American voters in Alabama, and we are considering our next steps.”
Press:
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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.