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janainelson.bsky.social
President & Director-Counsel of LDF (NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.) the nation's premier racial justice & civil rights law organization. Posts are my own.
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Important that ICE is pausing most raids on farms, hotels & restaurants but let’s be clear: Trump dn do it to keep families together, honor the dignity of essential workers, or right an egregious wrong. He did it b/c businesses are worried about profit. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

This is serious, rigorous analysis and it should change the way the media has been covering these protests. These were, in the aggregate, *massive.*

What’s happening in Los Angeles is military occupation of a state against its will in a show of sheer domination by force of might not morals. There’s no basis for treating lawful protesters as enemy combatants. The President is ordering crimes against the American ppl. We are in lawless territory.

Trump’s federalizing of the CA Natl Guard is “simply outrageous,” says Fmr. Sec. of Homeland Security and Fmr. AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano. And deploying the Marines was “crossing a red line.” #VELSHI

“By telling insurance companies they can no longer receive vital federal funding if they provide abortion coverage under their plans, Trump & House Republicans are giving insurance providers an enormous incentive to weaken their abortion coverage or drop it completely.”@nwlc nwlc.org/the-big-beau...

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads raising kids to lead with love, kindness, respect, and humility.

Here’s a New York Times photo of the Chicago “No Kings” rally. NYT said the march that followed spanned at least 10 blocks.

My Statement: Thoughts on the Despicable Assassination (and Attempted Assassination) of Minnesota Legislators, the Rise in Political Violence in the United States, and the Threats to Free and Fair Elections electionlawblog.org?p=150386

A fair question!

OK. This is incredible content.

Trump’s military parade is stripping funds from Americans, threatening marginalized communities, and insulting the ideals of what a democracy is. America’s power has always lied with its people, and one thing is certain: they will not tolerate a king.

ICYMI, we wrote about how to balance protecting civic space for peaceful protest with protecting public safety — and why peaceful protest is so valuable in a democracy. Revisit the article here: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/peaceful-p...

LDF Condemns Politically Motivated Shootings of Minnesota State Officials and Calls on Elected Officials to Denounce Political Violence and Model Civility - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

Devastated that Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark have died by assassination. This horrible killing must be fully investigated with transparency to the public about all details, including the specific tactics used.

Political hate and violence have been given unprecedented platform and permission. Praying for Sen. John Hoffman & Rep. Melissa Hortman & their families. abcnews.go.com/US/2-minneso...

Sen. Kim: "My colleague was thrown to the floor, handcuffed, humiliated—it is not a humiliation of that individual Senator, it is a humiliation of this body...Shame upon those that instigated this, that followed through on this, it is something all of us need to stand against."

The assault on @SenAlexPadilla is seering evidence of the rapid disintegration of US democracy. For a him to be ignored, tackled & handcuffed after requesting info of a cabinet member is interference w/representation thru excessive use of force.1/4 www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNjB...

BREAKING: Judge issues a temporary ruling against Trump using the National Guard in LA “The order requires Trump to return control of the National Guard to California Gov. Gavin Newsom by noon Friday (Pacific Time).” www.npr.org/2025/06/12/n...

America is under progressive military occupation by its own govt in the name of expelling immigrants. Trump is using xenophobia to trample rights & freedoms. This isn’t about the border. It has everything to do with what const’l abuses mainland America will tolerate. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/u...

It is critically important that those who oppose the military occupation of LA county allow local & state officials to quell any unrest & manage peaceful protest. This will strengthen the ability to show there is no basis for Trump‘s dangerous escalation. www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...

LDF Condemns President Trump’s Deployment of National Guard in Attempt to Curb Constitutionally Protected Protests Against Aggressive ICE Raids - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

We’re in dangerous territory when govt sees its people as the enemy. Sending Marines to LA will further escalate tensions and endanger communities. Gov. Newsom and local officials must be allowed to deescalate peacefully w/out intrusion of US Armed Forces. thehill.com/policy/defen...

David Huerta has been federally charged with "conspiracy to impede an officer." The complaint relies on conjecture like that highlighted below & effectively suggests any group protest or act of civil disobedience—all common tactics of dissent—are conspiratorial. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...

“There is a difference between voicing dissent and silencing those who disagree with you. Silencing is a tactic of tyranny and repression. Using the machinery of govt to remove opposition, investigate adversaries, and quash dissent is not dialogue; it's domination.” www.newsweek.com/targeting-ng...

LDF calls on Trump & Hegseth to immediately stand down and respect the 1st A rts of LA residents and their supporters. A broad contingent of ppl oppose the Admin’s crusade and have the right to protest in solidarity w/ the families and workers being targeted. www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

This is our military’s response to First Amendment freedoms.

Looking forward to hearing how people at the #TonyAwards use their platforms to uplift the burgeoning crisis in LA and the lawful movement to #FreeDavidHuerta and #EndRaids. Every voice makes a difference—especially those with megaphones.

@SEIU -USWW Pres. #DavidHuerta was assaulted, injured & detained during efforts to protect immigrant workers from violent ICE raids. He’s still in federal custody following release from the hospital for his injuries. #FreeDavidHuerta 1/3

A message to the press specifically about deployment of the #NationalGuard & #Marines in LA: Please exercise extreme caution and accuracy here. There may be infiltrators and agitators and they should NOT drive the narrative. Your reporting has the power protect or endanger. Use it wisely.

Breaking News: A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s latest effort to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students.

Before the recent Supreme Court decision on employment discrimination gets misused—intentionally or unintentionally—to back further away from principles of diversity, equity & inclusion read LDF’s statement on what the Court did & didn’t do in Ames v. Ohio. www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

Happy 75th to the Leadership Conference powerfully led by my fearless sister-friend ⁦‪@mayawiley‬⁩! We are rising up and marching on as a powerful coalition that represents the majority of people and their principles across the country. Congratulations @civilrightsorg‬⁩!

Today’s hearing is part of a coordinated campaign to intimidate, harass, and silence civil society groups that this Administration perceives as threats to its extremist ideology. We will not be deterred. Our work is more vital than ever. www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

This is pipeline-building and generational torch-passing at the highest level. Many thanks @sifill.bsky.social for blazing the trail. We are now 50 scholars strong!

No judge should be worried about their personal safety when they’re deciding a case. That’s how the rule of law ends. I’m proud to lead a bipartisan group of my colleagues in demanding that we fund efforts to get Judges' personal information off the internet.

LDF Forcefully Condemns Boulder Attack - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

2020 dared Black ppl to suspend cynicism born from centuries of betrayal in guarded hope America might do better. 5 yrs later reconfirmed this country remains gripped by deep-seated & irrational fear of equality & justice & has yet to learn the hard lesson of linked fate 19thnews.org/2025/05/blac...

After wrecking the federal govt-as he did Twitter & Tesla-Musk now wants to pick up his marbles and go home. There must be accountability for those who let him have his way w/ the lives & livelihoods of Americans until he bored of the disaster that is DOGE www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/u...

This is what you call self-inflicted humiliation on an international stage for Trump, Bessent & everyone in the White House who pretended tyrannical, retributive tariffs would be good for the American economy and a lawful exercise of executive power. www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

Trump Loses Another Battle in His War Against Elite Law Firms www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/u...

With heavy hearts and profound gratitude, we mourn the loss of Harlem’s very own Charlie Rangel—a consummate public servant and legendary advocate who dedicated his life to championing justice, opportunity, and civil rights in New York City and beyond. www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...