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Standing Up for Equity and Civil Rights (Lawyers’ Committee Newsletter April 2025)

With many historical holidays and commemorations, including Fair Housing Month, Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance, and the anniversary of Emancipation Day, the month of April was full of reflection for the Lawyers’ Committee. 

Additionally, from efforts to cut off funding for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) education to changes and threats to voting rights, April was another crucial month for our organization’s ongoing work and legacy. This month, civil rights leaders banded together in unification in the fight for civil rights. 

This newsletter highlights our bold responses to escalating threats against democracy, racial equity, education, and the rule of law. Read on to explore key legal updates, media appearances, and how you can donate and support the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Every April, Fair Housing Month is a month to reflect on housing discrimination and segregation, past and present. During April’s #FairHousingMonth, we commemorated the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968—part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968—which established nationwide protections against housing discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of homes. Under the 1968 Act, providers of housing cannot discriminate against persons based on race or color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. 

 Overall, the month:

  • Commemorates the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which outlawed discrimination in housing
  • Reaffirms a commitment to ending housing discrimination
  • Promotes fair housing as a fundamental human right
  • Advances equitable opportunities and expands homeownership

At the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, we continue to commit ourselves to the fight to end housing discrimination in our nation, and to strive for a future where all realms of society, including law, real estate, and business, are more equitable and inclusive. 

We will continue to help shape a future where every person, regardless of race, religion, or background, has equal access to opportunities and information, fair treatment, and honorable business practices. 

Official Statements & Press Releases

  • Lawyers’ Committee Civil Rights Legal Experts Denounce Trump Administration’s Latest Executive Orders | April 25, 2025 | Read more

  • Statement from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on the preliminary injunction issued in CWIT case regarding anti-DEI Executive Orders| April 15, 2025 | Read more

  • Lawyers’ Committee, NAACP, League of Women Voters and Equal Justice Society File Brief Opposing Executive Order Attacking Birthright Citizenship| April 11, 2025 | Read more

  • Lawyers’ Committee Urges Congress to Vote “No” on the SAVE Act | April 10, 2025 | Read more

  • Lawyers’ Committee, SCLC File Brief Opposing Unsealing MLK Jr. FBI Files| April 4, 2025 | Read more

  • Lawyers’ Committee Files Court Brief to Defend Legal Profession and Judicial Branch| April 4, 2025 | Read more

The Lawyers’ Committee Joins Fellow Civil Rights Organizations for a Unity Pact

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law joined many other integral civil rights organizations and groups (including but not limited to Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, the Black Voters Matter Fund, National Urban League, and many others), to stand in unity to protect ourselves, our collective work and missions, and the people we represent and serve against the government’s targeting and actions.

“Today, we commit to stay united in our shared vision for opportunity, prosperity, dignity, belonging, and for the rights and justice necessary to ensure them, “ the pact stated. “We represent people who are Black, White, Latino, Asian and Indigenous, from cities, suburbs, and rural communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, workers, women, immigrants, and people of all ethnicities, faiths, ages and backgrounds.” 

“We will not be divided. We will not be intimidated into silence or abandoning our communities.”

Read more on the pact and its commitments here: The Pact: A Civil Rights Coalition Unity Commitment – Milwaukee Community Journal

Key Stories Shaping the Legal and Policy Landscape (April Roundup)

With demonstrations of civil rights leadership, more updates to education, DEI, and voting rights, and important news in government and law, April has been full of development and growth for civil rights litigation and advocacy. Here are some of the key stories from April that are shaping the legal and policy landscape:

Civil Rights Leadership

  • Civil Rights Coalition Launches Unity Pact to Defend Against Trump Assault on Nonprofits: The Lawyers’ Committee proudly joined “The Pact,” a unity statement led by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and supported by a broad coalition of civil rights organizations. The Pact affirms a shared commitment to collective action in response to escalating threats to democracy, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and fundamental civil liberties. Common Dreams (April 21)
  • Leading Civil Rights Groups Unite to Protect Black History, Art, Culture, and Democracy: Leading civil rights groups and organizations, including the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law, all have united to affirm: “Racial inequality remains real; if we are not able to understand it, tell its history, and honor those who have risked everything to solve it, then we lose our capacity to carry the legacy, brilliance, and resilience of these freedom fighters in our lives and to future generations. Democracy is a constant struggle, and the erasure of our history prevents us from fighting to preserve it.” Houston Style Magazine (April 28)
  • Rep. Bobby Scott Holds Forum With Civil Rights Leaders: Shatorah Roberson, Senior Policy Counsel for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, joined other leading Civil Rights senior policy counsels and figures in a panel this past month hosted by Congressman Bobby Scott. The panel was held to discuss recent Administration attacks on DEI. WVEC (VA) (13 News Now) (April 1) 

Voting Rights and Democracy

  • Settlement Extension Ensures Navajo Voting Access through 2028 in San Juan County: The original lawsuit, filed by the ACLU of Utah, the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, DLA Piper LLP, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, argued that San Juan County’s vote-by-mail system disproportionately harmed Navajo residents, many of whom live in remote areas and speak primarily Navajo. A 2018 settlement further required the county to restore early in-person voting options in Navajo Nation communities. Moab Times-Independent (April 30)
  • Voting Rights Groups Claim New Law Violates National Voter Registration Act: Groups signing the letter include: Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of Indiana, Hoosier Asian American Power, the NAACP Indiana State Conference, the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the National Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and attorneys William R. Groth and Daniel Bowman of Bowman & Vlink, LLC. Yahoo News (April 3) 

Education and DEI 

  • Trump Administration Tells Schools: No Federal Funds If You’re Using DEI: “The goal here is increased threats and intimidation to cause a chilling effect that makes school districts all over the country stop doing activities and things that are otherwise lawful under Title VI,” said Michael Pillera, the director of the educational opportunities project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Education Week (Nat) (April 3)
  • Trump Administration Ramps Up Threat to Cut School Funding over DEI: Michael Pillera, director of the educational opportunities project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said even if the administration doesn’t pull funding, these directives will likely cause educators to back away from lawful activities to avoid creating a target for the Trump administration. “The letter in no way changed the law,” said Pillera, who worked in the department’s civil rights office until he resigned last month. “All that changed is the department’s behavior and its desire to intimidate and chill activities and school districts.” NBC News (Nat) (April 3)
  • Women’s Trade Organization Granted Temporary Restraining Order in DOL, Trump DEI Case: Highlighting the need for nonprofits like CWIT to create a “level playing field,” Lawyers’ Committee Senior Counsel Sabrina Talukder said that CWIT is “still at risk of being unjustly silenced and defunded. Everyday Americans stand to lose if nonprofits doing the critical work of advancing gender and racial equity cannot continue their work.” HR Dive (Nat) (April 2)
  • 7 Experts Rebuke EEOC For Unlawful Anti-DEI Targeting of Employers: The seven experts explain that the legal method for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate an employer is by a commissioner filing a formal charge. The law only permits a commissioner charge if there is sufficient evidence that an employer has discriminated in violation of Title VII. Federal law also requires a commissioner charge to be kept confidential, which prohibits identifying targeted companies in a press release. A charge must also be signed by the commissioner under penalty of perjury. The penalty of perjury requirement “prevents commissioners from initiating frivolous investigations or abusing the legal process,” according to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Forbes (Nat) (April 2) 

Government and Law

  • Trump Did the One Thing that Could Unravel His MAGA Base: President and Executive Director of Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Damon Hewitt explains how the Trump administration is attempting to dismantle legal opposition. The Daily Beast- The New Abnormal (Nat) (April 4)
  • Externships from State Capital to Nation’s Capital: Janeal Fordham, a third-year law student, made strides as a second-year student in her legal career through her externship with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington, D.C. Fordham embraced this unique opportunity as part of the D.C. Semester in Practice program, which she describes as the highlight of her law school experience. University of Miami School of Law (April 23)

The fight for equity and justice continues, with ongoing legal battles and policy changes shaping the future.

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Photo Highlights from April’s NAN Conference

Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, joined an all-star panel titled “Being a Light in Dark Times… Measuring the Movement.” at the 2025 National Action Network Convention held April 2-5, 2025! Moderated by Rev. Al Sharpton, the conversation brought together iconic civil rights leaders including Melanie Campbell, Marc Morial, Clayola Brown, and Maya Wiley to reflect on our collective progress and the work ahead. With more than 8,000 attendees, April’s NAN convention was a powerful reminder that change happens when we show up, speak out, and take action. 

Watch Damon’s segment here: https://tinyurl.com/mr3wfrxk

 

Events (May)

  • AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month
  • National Law Day (May 1)
  • Brown v. Board of Education Anniversary (May 17)
  • George Floyd Remembrance (May 25)
  • Memorial Day (May 26)

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The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to mobilize the nation’s leading lawyers as agents for change in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the Lawyers’ Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real. The Lawyers’ Committee implements its mission and objectives by marshaling the pro bono resources of the bar for litigation, public policy, advocacy and other forms of service by lawyers to the cause of civil rights.