"Rights don't remain safe. The work to protect and advance them is always ongoing." Meet our new Chief Development Officer, Courtney Spellacy! Read why she joined PRP and why she believes local governments have a critical role in defending civil rights.

Today marks our nation's 250th birthday. America's story has never been finished. We celebrate our progress, reflect honestly on our history, and recommit to building a more just, inclusive, multiracial democracy alongside local leaders nationwide.

HUD is back with another unlawful attack on homelessness funding. Today, PRP sued over 2026 grant rules that threaten housing for thousands and undermine proven solutions. We're standing with local governments to stop them. ⬇️ https://ow.ly/9L3j50ZjLkm

On this day in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. It outlawed segregation and discrimination, laying the groundwork for protections all Americans rely on today. Today, we help carry on its legacy — by helping local governments defend their communities’ civil rights.

A federal rule restricting commercial driver's licenses for immigrants won't make communities safer, it will hurt them. PRP filed an amicus brief on behalf of 19 local governments challenging the rule. Read more: https://www.publicrightsproject.org/what-we-do/legal-advocacy/lujan-v-fmcsa-oct-2025/

Children born in the U.S. are citizens of the U.S. Today, the Supreme Court preserved birthright citizenship, striking down the president’s 2025 executive order.

Today is the anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges — the #SCOTUS ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. Efforts to reverse it don’t just threaten a legal precedent, but also represent attempts to erase the existence, love, and struggle of the LGBTQ+ community. We stand with them, now and always.

Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Miot and Mullin v. Doe threatens one of the most significant humanitarian protections for immigrants and places communities across the country at risk. For Haitian and Syrian families, the consequences could be immediate and devastating.

Local governments know what their communities need. That's why Public Rights Project filed an amicus brief on behalf of 147 cities, counties, and elected officials defending local authority in Michigan against threats to sanctuary city policies. Read the brief:https://ow.ly/FOqV50Zgqp9

"A federal judge threw out the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit seeking Maryland’s statewide, unredacted voter registration list, dealing another blow to President Donald Trump and the department’s sweeping campaign to obtain voter data from the states."

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade — eliminating the constitutional right to abortion.

HUD's new homelessness funding rules could jeopardize housing for at least 97,000 formerly homeless people. Today, Public Rights Project joined a coalition of local governments and nonprofit orgs to challenge the unlawful and discriminatory policy in court. Learn more: https://ow.ly/7VOi50ZfpeS

#Juneteenth is more than the day we commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. It’s a celebration of liberation and the enduring spirit and resilience of Black people in this country. It’s also a reminder that freedom isn’t created or guaranteed by declarations. It is realized through action.

Yesterday, a coalition of 146 cities, counties, and elected officials pushed back against the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to coerce enforcement of its harmful immigration policies. Read more: https://ow.ly/20lP50ZcMso

Local governments are urging the Eighth Circuit to rehear a case that could expand mandatory immigration detention. The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas warn about the harms to communities, local economies, and public safety. ➡️ https://ow.ly/FGqw50Z6UlW

"Thursday’s dismissals bring the DOJ’s record to 0-8 out of 31 lawsuits brought against states and Washington, D.C."

BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows #mifepristone to remain available by mail and telehealth nationwide. The decision ensures that medication abortion will remain available and accessible throughout the country while the Fifth Circuit decides the merits of the case.

"The Supreme Court is leaving women’s access to a widely used #abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect."

📣 Today, PRP and 110 local governments filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect access to mifepristone. Learn more: https://ow.ly/mEPl50YWhFj

"The U.S. Supreme Court’s new decision gutting a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act clears the way for state officials to drastically reshape not only Congress but also state legislatures, county commissions, city councils and even local school boards."

The Supreme Court's latest order on the #mifepristone case puts the Fifth Circuit’s order on hold and temporarily restores telemedicine access. It will remain in effect for another week while both sides respond and the court considers the issue more fully. #abortion #reproductiverights

As the Supreme Court considers ending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, mayors are speaking out. The impact wouldn’t be abstract — it would hit communities immediately. More from our Civil Rights Hub Director Jenny Ma: https://ow.ly/IJxK50YTwhn

We urged the Department of Labor to withdraw a rule that would make it easier to misclassify workers — making work less secure for millions and stripping pay, benefits, and protections. Learn more: https://ow.ly/TsHk50YS2Ev

Today, dozens of local election officials and local governments urged a district court to block an executive order seeking to interfere in #election administration. Read the brief: https://ow.ly/sQnK50YT1Eq#election

📣 Applications are open for our Affirmative Leaders Fellowship! It's for mid-career government attorneys ready to expand civil rights protections and lead high-impact work. ➡️ Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/UwvW50YRlqX

Temporary Protected Status is a legal commitment our country has made to people who came here lawfully — ending it overnight is a betrayal of that promise.

Public Rights Project and 13 local governments are pushing back on a proposed DHS rule that would block asylum seekers from working — hurting local economies and services. Read more: https://www.publicrightsproject.org/what-we-do/legal-advocacy/dhs-ead-work-authorization-comment/

Cities aren’t waiting. 🎥 Jill Habig at SXSW on reproductive freedom, local action, and why no win (or loss) is permanent. Watch + read more: https://ow.ly/H1TM50YLboa

Today, three communities in #Texas — Harris County, El Paso County, and Austin — joined Public Rights Project and other local government leaders to urge the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear a critical case on #immigration detention. 📝 Read the brief: https://ow.ly/MrG850YAZ3L

Several of our partners were named Government Champions as part of the Local Gov 250 initiative. These leaders embody what effective, community-centered governance looks like. We’re grateful to support their work defending and advancing democracy every day. https://www.localgov250.org/champions

Today, PRP and local governments, mayors, and local leaders — representing some of the largest Haitian populations in the U.S. — pushed back against the Trump admin’s attempt to revoke TPS from Haitian immigrants. 📝: https://www.publicrightsproject.org/what-we-do/legal-advocacy/miot-v-trump/

This week, we filed an amicus brief defending Ohio’s home rule — the constitutional authority that allows cities to pass local health and safety laws. Cities must be able to govern locally. Read more about the case here: https://ow.ly/V93x50YsQSM

Courts are pushing back on unlawful federal funding conditions. A new NYT analysis shows plaintiffs have won the vast majority of rulings so far in lawsuits challenging these policies — many brought by cities and counties defending critical services. https://ow.ly/KCIj50YpX1B

Conflicting stories from the federal government about FEMA workforce cuts have prompted a federal judge to order depositions of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and senior officials. More on the case: https://ow.ly/7SYx50YqefV

The Trump admin has “tested how far it could push, how much violence it could inflict, how long it could sustain an occupation. It will apply those lessons in the next city, with free elections on the line, unless mayors unite to stop them.” @mayorjacobfrey.bsky.social & our CEO Jill Habig explain:

Today, we joined a powerful coalition of 140+ local govts and leaders across 26 states to push back against the Trump administration’s attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship. In our amicus brief, we urge SCOTUS to block an executive order that would deny people this right. 📝: tr.ee/s49t18

📣 Amicus brief filed! 📣 This week, 75 local governments spoke out in support of New York City’s policies against federal anti-immigration push. Our coalition’s message is clear: it’s not the job of local governments to carry out federal enforcement work. Read the brief here: tr.ee/D8if19

Cities aren’t powerless. In @washingtonpost.com, Jill Habig explains how the 10th Amendment shapes cities’ response to aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Cities can’t obstruct federal law — but they don’t have to divert local resources to carry it out. That line matters. bit.ly/4kOf5Tg

14 local governments are speaking out against proposed federal rules that would block young people from accessing medically necessary gender-affirming care. Yesterday, PRP filed comments challenging these unlawful, harmful rules. Read the comment: www.publicrightsproject.org/what-we-do/l...

Local governments are on the front lines of protecting our democracy. Public Rights Project provides local government officials with legal support and capacity building to advance civil rights. Ready to partner with us? Get in touch! publicrightsproject.org/get-involved

Today, a coalition of 138 cities, counties, and elected officials pushed back against the Trump admin's ongoing attempts to coerce the enforcement of its harmful immigration policies. On the coalition’s behalf, we filed an amicus brief urging the court to dismiss the case brought by the DOJ.

1/ PRP is committed to immigration rights. That’s why we’re helping Portland to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on sanctuary cities. In a recent TIME article, Jill Habig explains that sanctuary city laws foster trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

1/🚨San Francisco Fights Trump’s Illegal Attack on Sanctuary Cities🚨 Trump is commandeering local police to act as ICE, pulling them from real emergencies — making communities less safe and tearing families apart.