Happy Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa honors the strength, resilience, and creativity of Black communities. As we enter this week, we’re reflecting on what it means to come together not just to celebrate, but to use our collective power to stand up for justice, truth, and build a future where we all thrive.

Happy holidays ❤️ Today we celebrate community, rest, and Black joy.️ When we take time to recharge, we returned grounded, stronger, and ready to advocate for a better, more just world. Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday!

🚨 BREAKING: Harvard now scrubs race, ethnicity, and national origin from alumni admissions interview reports. We’re calling out this censorship because this policy violates civil rights and shuts the door on equal opportunity for Black students and students of color.

Black communities have been disproportionately criminalized for marijuana offenses for too long. Now that the DEA is considering reclassifying marijuana, they must also confront and repair the harms caused by these policies and ensure their new framework is equitable for all.

Happy birthday to the iconic Madame C.J. Walker! As Black students continue to face discrimination because of their hair, Madame C.J. Walker’s legacy reminds us of the power Black hair holds. Because Black hair isn’t a distraction, it isn’t offensive – it's identity, culture, and strength.

New Orleans now joins the list of cities where federal agents are being deployed by the Dept. of Homeland Security. This deployment will undoubtedly harm immigrant communities, Black communities, and communities of color. City officials must step in and protect residents from federal abuse.

Equal access to the ballot box is the backbone of fair representation and civil rights. With the federal Voting Rights Act under attack, states need their own protections. New Jersey, it’s time to step up and make sure every voice counts.

Joy multiplies when you share it. From volunteering to supporting causes you care about, there are countless ways to give back. What’s your favorite way to make a difference? Consider supporting our work and helping to protect civil rights. Donate here: https://engage.naacpldf.org/a/eoy2025bluesky

We sat down with James Pickens, Jr. to discuss his new short film, “Albert’s Flower,” which confronts America’s deep-rooted history of housing discrimination. This powerful film reminds us that the struggle for fair housing isn’t a relic of the past, but an injustice we all must fight against today.

We teamed up with voting and civil rights advocates to call out a big misstep in North Carolina. Guilford County’s early voting plan overlooks predominantly Black neighborhoods, where public transit is scarce, possibly shutting out thousands from the ballot box. Fair access should not be optional.

The criminal justice system has historically failed to keep Black people safe while also aggressively policing under-resourced Black communities. Black people deserve a system that prioritizes their safety, not one that puts them at risk.

The U.S. Congress passed the FY26 NDAA, which will prohibit all DEIA initiatives across the Department of Defense. Removing these initiatives means Black people, communities of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people will all be more likely to experience discrimination while serving in the military.

📽️ICYMI: Janai Nelson, President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, joined Marc Elias to reveal how democracy is still shaped by race and power, and how the Supreme Court and partisan lawmakers are rolling back hard-won rights for minority voters. https://youtu.be/eWvZ2R2dCAg

Rest in peace Rob and Michele Reiner. Hollywood icons, the Reiners engaged frequently in social justice activism, supporting landmark policies for LGBTQ rights and childhood development. Our condolences go out to their loved ones.

They marched. They were jailed. They never stopped. #OTD in 1961 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were arrested in Albany for protesting and demanding equality.

🚨BREAKING: We’ve appealed in the case Simon v. Ivey after a ruling denied relief from SB 129 — Alabama’s campus censorship law. SB 129 silences classrooms, restricts student voices, and harms Black and LGBTQ+ students. We’re fighting to keep learning safe and inclusive.

Hair is an expression of identity and culture, not a threat. Policies that further hair discrimination are rooted in systemic racism and directly impact Black people, Indigenous communities, and communities of color. End hair discrimination and pass The CROWN Act in all 50 states. ✊🏽

While investments in prisons and detention centers are growing, Black communities continue to be under-resourced. It shouldn’t and doesn’t have to be this way.

We filed a brief in Tangipa v. Newman without taking sides. When states redraw voting maps, they must follow the Voting Rights Act. Making maps that give Black voters better opportunities does not automatically mean race was improperly used. Considering the VRA isn’t optional, it’s the standard.

The Department of Justice recently removed its disparate impact protections. What this means: a tool that was once used to identify discrimination in employment, education, housing, policing, and health care has now been gutted, leaving Black communities with even more barriers to opportunity.

For years, Black people have disproportionately faced unfair capital trials and the threat of execution. Use of the death penalty will always be unjust, no matter what the reason. This Human Right’s Day, we’re calling for an end to the death penalty and justice and respect for human life.

The numbers don't lie – voters across the country are in favor of laws like the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey. This crucial bill will protect the right to vote and preventing discriminatory voting practices and policies. We urge New Jersey lawmakers to pass it immediately!

Rest in peace Jo Ann Allen Boyce, a civil rights icon. As a student, she formed part of the “Clinton 12” and helped integrate Clinton High School in 1956, on year before Little Rock High School. Our condolences go out to her family and loved ones. ❤️

#OTD in 1965 the 13th Amendment ended slavery, but with a loophole; slavery was allowed as punishment for a crime. This marked the beginning of mass incarceration and the systemic oppression of Black people that persists today. Understanding this history is crucial to dismantling the system.

🚨 BREAKING: SCOTUS will hear Trump v. Barbara, a case that challenges Trump’s executive order striking down birthright citizenship. The Constitution isn’t optional, and this administration cannot rewrite it. We look forward to going before the Supreme Court and reminding the justices of that.

We condemn The Trump administration’s decision to deploy federal agents to New Orleans. This is another attempt to push harmful stereotypes about immigrants of color. America has and will always be a nation of immigrants. No amount of federal enforcement or intimidation tactics will change that.

We urge a federal court to keep halting the deployment of the National Guard in D.C. The administration’s deployment of the National Guard to D.C. has resulted in more harm in Black communities. The court must protect D.C. residents and deny the administration’s request to continue the deployment.

This year came with more attacks on our rights and ongoing efforts to silence our communities. But one thing remains true: we win when we stand together. This Giving Tuesday, join us in our fight for justice and support us in building the future we all deserve. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43TiEjT

#OTD in 1955, Rosa Parks didn’t move so the country could. One seat. One protest. 381 days of resistance that reshaped the civil rights movement.

Georgia’s financial aid is missing the mark. Georgia is one of only two states that does not have a comprehensive need-based aid program. Students are left behind before they even get started. Georgia, DO BETTER!

LDF’s Deuel Ross joined UCLA Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project for a deep dive into the fight for voting rights. From threats to the Voting Rights Act to strategies for safeguarding access to the ballot, this conversation shows why protecting voting rights matters now more than ever.

Civil rights are under attack, but we keep fighting for the rights we all deserve. This year, LDF staff share what they’re most thankful for and the joy that keeps us moving forward.

As many of us celebrate today, remember that today carries a different meaning for Indigenous communities. For centuries, Indigenous communities have been fighting for recognition and justice. Today, let's honor their histories and ensure their stories are not forgotten

Today we mourn the loss of former LDF client Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, a leader whose faith and courage transformed public life. He mobilized hundreds of Black churches, fought racial profiling in New Jersey and Georgia, and championed justice with integrity. May his legacy live on.

LDF is deeply alarmed by the shooting of two National Guard members today in Washington, D.C. Our thoughts are with them and their families during this difficult time. Violence has no place in our society, and today's tragedy is yet another reminder of the need for peace.

Equal educational opportunity matters. Boston's three exam schools should be open to all students, and school districts must ensure all students have an equal opportunity to compete for admission to selective public schools.

As many of us prepare to gather with our communities tomorrow, here are a few ways to turn gratitude into tangible change and lean into the spirit of "giving"!

We mourn the loss of Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Ms. Fletcher’s courage and conviction will continue to inspire us all, and her legacy stands as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when we’re committed to the fight for racial justice.

Black residents in Memphis are being kicked out of their homes so a utility site can expand their facility. With this expansion, Black residents in Memphis face dire environmental and health hazards, and are forced to take a step back in their fight for fair housing.

Happy birthday Mamie Till-Mobley ❤️ Turning her grief into a lifelong fight for justice, her activism gave voice to many Black Americans and sparked change throughout the country. While there is still work to be done, Mamie Till-Mobley's legacy inspires us to be fierce in our fight for freedom.

Anti-DEI efforts are on the rise, but they threaten the progress we’ve made toward equity in education. LDF’s Antonio Ingram joins Harvard Kennedy School’s Justice Matters podcast to break down what’s at stake and how we can push back.

A federal judge ruled the deployment of National Guard troops in D.C. is unlawful. This is a huge win for D.C. and sends a clear message to the Trump administration: nobody is above the law, and no abuse of power will go unchecked.

🚨 The House recently passed H.R. 5017 and H.R. 5214, bills that threaten the safety of residents by reinstituting cash bail and repealing a 2022 police reform law. These bills undo years of progress in D.C. Congress must end all attempts to override laws that were enacted by and for the district.

Federal agencies are trying to rewrite the playbook on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Let's be clear: The laws haven’t changed. But employers must step up to the plate and ensure all employees and candidates have equal access to opportunity.

Today we honor the iconic Pauli Murray ❤️ Without Ms. Murray's challenge of the "separate but equal" doctrine, there would be no foundation for Brown v. Board of Education. As we continue to see attacks on public education, Pauli Murray reminds us to remain steadfast in our fight for equality.

This Trans Day of Remembrance, we honor the transgender people who lost their lives for living authentically. Today is a reminder that our work is far from over – we all must commit to protecting their lives, their rights, and fight for a world where no one’s identity is a threat to their safety.

We condemn the actions of the Trump Administration and its efforts to gut the Department of Education by shifting key responsibilities to other agencies. This move will strip public schools of vital funding, deepening inequities for Black students and students of color.

Btw: judging Black people based on their hair is racist. When schools police Black hair, it's not about rules or dress codes. It’s about forcing Black students to change who they are so others feel comfortable.

BREAKING: Federal judges just blocked Texas’s new congressional map, ruling it racially discriminatory. Texas must use its 2021 congressional map for the 2026 midterms. As the state with the largest Black voter population, fair maps in Texas are critical to protect voters of color.

The Voting Rights Act is still under fire, and LDF is fighting to protect and grow Black political power. Learn why Louisiana v. Callais matters: head to @vox.com’s YouTube channel.