Celebrating Black History Month: Today, we recall the great scholar W.E.B. Du Bois who powerfully asked, "Will the truth set you free?" You can listen to Du Bois' speech recited by NCLEJ's Executive Director Dennis Parker from a talk last Sunday, presented by the Ethical Culture Society.
And, like the rest of the nation, we have been following President Biden's nomination to the SCOTUS. In particular, we lift the testimony that NCLEJ presented last summer, to honor professional diversity and a background in public interest lawyering, in addition to calling on Biden to make good on his promise to nominate a Black woman.
Exciting Outcome to Sheff v. O'Neill: Sheff is a school desegregation case against the State of Connecticut that addresses the extreme racial and economic isolation and limited resources that many students in Hartford experienced, compared to the surrounding suburbs which include some of the richest school districts in the country. NCLEJ’s Dennis Parker joined the Sheff litigation team in 1992. This video highlights why this case is so important. You can read the official statement by the Legal Defense Fund.
"Last week, we entered a permanent injunction that will provide thousands of students from the majority Black and Brown Hartford schools to attend high quality, integrated magnet and suburban schools to the benefit of all students in the Hartford metropolitan area. This case underscores the long fight for racial and economic justice that is core to NCLEJ's mission. This is an exciting outcome after three decades and the highlight of my career," shared Dennis Parker.
Campaign to pass the Consumer and Small Business Protection Act. As of now, New York lags behind 39 other states in consumer protection. This means there is no standard for fair practice: student loan servicers can steer students toward the most expensive repayment options, for-profit nursing homes can prey on relatives to pay patient bills, and debt collectors can manipulate seniors into giving up their limited income, with little repercussion. You can follow the campaign and see highlights from Director of Litigation Claudia Wilner's advocacy for this bill.
Community groups call on the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a full environmental review in advance of issuing an air permit to the National Grid for the LNG facility. Communities of color are now being met with a rate hike to their gas bill: inevitably, they are being asked to pay for their poison in neighborhoods already burdened with high asthma rates. “The EPA now has a choice as to how it will influence DEC’s decision-making on a permit that we allege is discriminatory,” said Senior Attorney Anjana Malhotra. See the latest on our case, reported in The City.
Connect with us: We will continue highlighting Black activists and changemakers who have pushed for justice in the courtrooms and the community. Follow us on social media for updates.
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice advances racial and economic justice through ground-breaking impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. We have provided legal representation and support since 1965.
