Janai Nelson

I pray for the day when this op-ed I wrote over 10 years does not feel evergreen. “Tamir Rice and Loss of Black Innocence" (Huffington Post) - The Thurgood Marshall Institute at LDF

tminstituteldf.org/tmi-explains...

I pray for the day when this op-ed I wrote over 10 years does not feel evergreen. “Tamir Rice and Loss of Black Innocence" (Huffington Post) - The Thurgood Marshall Institute at LDF

tminstituteldf.org/tmi-explains...

Alito lets Texas reinstate gerrymandered House map that could give GOP 5 more seats Alito’s move allowing Texas officials to continue to prepare for primary elections under the new map came just after the state asked the Supreme Court for an urgent ruling.

BREAKING: Alito indulges Greg Abbott’s attempt to allow a clear racial gerrymander to govern Texas’s congressional elections for convenience. This nonsensical deference to state-imposed deadlines makes a mockery of democracy.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”

This is a vile invitation for white nationalists and anti-Semites to infiltrate the U.S. military amid a surge in hate fueled by the Trump admin. Every former military officer and leader should lobby for an immediate reversal of this dangerous decision.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Thank you, @aapf.org for an excellent forum with heavyweights Kimberle Crenshaw, Carol Anderson, and Nancy MacLean.

Tennessee judge rules National Guard deployment in Memphis is unlawful But the judge put the order on hold, giving the government five days to appeal.

A Tennessee judge has blocked the use of the National Guard in Memphis, giving the government five days to appeal. Trump has targeted several cities across the country with substantial Black populations with similar abuses of National Guard resources.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Trump’s redistricting scam prioritizes a power grab over American ppl: “Any time or resources spent on [redistricting] I think is time & resources that could have been used on issues that are actually of importance to the country,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif)https://politi.co/4nZe0YL

LDF and Civil Rights Organizations Applaud Federal Court’s Decision to Block Texas’ Racially Discriminatory Congressional Map in the 2026 Elections A three-judge federal panel ruled today that Texas’ 2025 redrawn congressional map, which was enacted through a sham legislative process in August, cannot be used for the upcoming 2026 midterm electio...

BREAKING: Federal court ruled Texas’ congressional map enacted thru a sham legislative process, can’t be used for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections b/c it is a unconstitutional racial gerrymander harming Black and Hispanic voters.

Read LDF’s statement.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

LDF Welcomes New Board Member Dr. Joy Buolamwini Today, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) announced that Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League and champion of digital equity and accountability, has been elected to its Board of Dir...

Dr. Joy Buolamwini has been called the “conscience of the AI revolution.” Her transformative scholarship has brought needed moral clarity to the AI field. I’m thrilled LDF’s board will have her invaluable expertise to inform our governance & stewardship. www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

LDF Names Pamela Giller Chief Development Officer Today, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) announced the appointment of Pamela Giller as Chief Development Officer. Giller, who has two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, most recently served as ...

LDF Names Pamela Giller Chief Development Officer. So thrilled to welcome another incredible member to the LDF Senior Leadership Team - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

Nothing will replace the loss of Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of wannabe vigilantes who racially profiled and murdered him. At least now the fact of their hate is memorialized.

Ahmaud Arbery’s parents relieved after court upholds hate crime convictions.

www.ajc.com/news/2025/11...

PODCAST ALERT: Important conversation with @DemocracyDocket.bsky.social’s Marc Elias about the future of redistricting.

Make it your weekend listen.

LDF Issues Statement on Denial of Request to Dismiss Charges of Representative LaMonica McIver A federal judge declined to dismiss charges against U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver. Rep. McIver is currently charged in a three-count indictment alleging that she forcibly impeded and interfered ...

@RepLaMonica McIver’s prosecution is a brazen act of political retaliation and misuse of federal power and resources. It’s also another reminder that the Trump admin will weaponize law enforcement against those who pursue transparency, accountability, and justice.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

An historic shutdown is not an event people will indulge on repeat. It’s also not a card that can be played again without even more prolonged deprivation once everyone now knows when you will say uncle. Hard ball is called that for a reason. Just saying. What will it take? 3/3

The current pain of the American ppl is nothing to downplay and should’ve been planned for & mitigated where possible. But the pain will be significantly worse on the other side when the most one can say at the negotiating table (assuming there is one) is “But, you promised.” 2/3

Through the discrete lens of power—not partisan politics—just power, voting on a funding bill to reopen the govt in hopes of renegotiating terms at a future time with no leverage has to be high up on list of foolish errands. 1/3

“Donald Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends & donors from investigation, prosecution, & possible punishment. This is contrary to everything that I have stood for in my more than 50 yrs in the DOJ and on the bench.”

Why I Am Resigning A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.

Reagan appointed Judge Mark Wolf resigns from a lifetime federal judgeship in protest of Trump‘s corruption and violations of the rule of law. This is courage in action.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

DC Bar - Ethics Opinion 391 Ethics Opinion 391

Here’s DC Bar Ethics Opinion 391. The unethical lawyers throughout the Trump Administration should also be on notice. The rules of professional responsibility are a real thing. www.dcbar.org/For-Lawyers/...

After Law Firm Deals With Trump, D.C. Bar Warns of Ethical Jeopardy

Law firms that capitulated to Trump, aka the “kneeling 9”, continue to reckon with the consequences of their decision, including complying with the DC Bar’s recent ethics decision requiring waivers from all clients who have interests at odds with the govt.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...

#TheRoot100

Many thanks to @therootdotcom.bsky.social for the honor of being included in #TheRoot100! Congratulations to all the other honorees.

It’s a pretty kick@$& group. Check it out.

theroot100.com/nominee_list...

“A policy so clearly grounded in the punishment, endangerment, and humiliation of transgender people is fundamentally at war with the principles of equal protection.“

Todd A. Cox, LDF Associate Director-Counsel

LDF Condemns Supreme Court Decision Allowing Discrimination Against Transgender People -

x.com/jnelsonldf/s...

A note of gratitude to our federal workforce who are toiling without pay while the Administration continues to inflict pain and suffering to squeeze more profits out of a broken healthcare sys on the backs of the sick and the poor.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Pass it on.

Justice Jackson rightly points out that this is yet another emergency docket error in which the Supreme Court disregard principles of equity that allow gross violations of equal protection with no threatened harm to the govt and paving the way for gross injury to trans people.

Transgender ppl have had the basic freedom of listing their current gender on their passport for more than 30 yrs. In Trump v. Orr SCOTUS has permitted targeted punishment of trans ppl & invasive violations of privacy through Trump’s executive order that reverses this policy. 1/2

Black voters do it again.

Turning out despite the fatigue.

Using our power with determination and expert discernment.

My mayor’s name is

ZOHRAN KWAME MAMDANI

New Yorkers delivered a historic win to an Indian immigrant from Uganda who is the first Muslim and second youngest person to lead America’s largest and most diverse city. #VotingMatters