Janai Nelson
@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.
Posts are my own.
The horrific shooting of National Guard members is not an excuse to increase their presence against local rule, community sentiment & a pending court order. Public safety results from data driven policies-not a reactionary show of force from the executive.
apnews.com/article/nati...
apnews.com/article/nati...
Trump administration orders 500 more National Guard troops to DC after shooting of soldiers
FBI Director Kash Patel says two West Virginia National Guard members who were shot just blocks from the White House are still alive and in critical condition.
apnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:21 PM
The horrific shooting of National Guard members is not an excuse to increase their presence against local rule, community sentiment & a pending court order. Public safety results from data driven policies-not a reactionary show of force from the executive.
apnews.com/article/nati...
apnews.com/article/nati...
Bishop Jackson’s leadership during LDF’s early fight against voter suppression helped protect the fundamental right to vote for countless Black Georgians. His faith, his voice and his unshakable commitment to racial justice strengthened our democracy.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
LDF Mourns the Loss of Bishop Reginald Jackson, Fearless Faith Leader and Civil Rights Stalwart
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) mourns the loss of Bishop Reginald Jackson, who passed away on Nov. 25, 2025, at the age of 71. Bishop Jackson was the 132nd bishop elected to the African Methodist Episco...
www.naacpldf.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Bishop Jackson’s leadership during LDF’s early fight against voter suppression helped protect the fundamental right to vote for countless Black Georgians. His faith, his voice and his unshakable commitment to racial justice strengthened our democracy.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
BREAKING: LDF moves to intervene in lawsuit on behalf of community organizations representing students and parents fighting to defend equal access to selective Boston public schools - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
Community Organizations Representing Students and Parents Ask to Intervene in Federal Lawsuit to Defend Equal Access to Selective Boston Public Schools
BOSTON, MA – Today, the Legal Defense Fund, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, LatinoJusticePRLDEF, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC filed a motion to intervene and a propo...
www.naacpldf.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
BREAKING: LDF moves to intervene in lawsuit on behalf of community organizations representing students and parents fighting to defend equal access to selective Boston public schools - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
Viola Ford Fletcher’s courage and conviction galvanized a national reckoning and reshaped the understanding of one of the most violently traumatic instances of racialized violence documented in American history—the Tulsa Massacre. Rest in eternal power.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
LDF Mourns the Loss of Viola Ford Fletcher, Oldest Known Survivor of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) mourns the passing of Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Known affectionately as “Mother Fletcher,” through a century-long pur...
www.naacpldf.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Viola Ford Fletcher’s courage and conviction galvanized a national reckoning and reshaped the understanding of one of the most violently traumatic instances of racialized violence documented in American history—the Tulsa Massacre. Rest in eternal power.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
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...
tminstituteldf.org/tmi-explains...
November 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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...
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...
tminstituteldf.org/tmi-explains...
November 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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...
tminstituteldf.org/tmi-explains...
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...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
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.
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:16 AM
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...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
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...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
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.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:45 AM
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...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Thank you, @aapf.org for an excellent forum with heavyweights Kimberle Crenshaw, Carol Anderson, and Nancy MacLean.
The second installment in our series “Why Authoritarian Fear Democracy” was a huge success!
We're honored to be conversation with @janainelson.bsky.social, @nancymaclean.bsky.social and Professor Carol Anderson.
The work continues.
We're honored to be conversation with @janainelson.bsky.social, @nancymaclean.bsky.social and Professor Carol Anderson.
The work continues.
November 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Thank you, @aapf.org for an excellent forum with heavyweights Kimberle Crenshaw, Carol Anderson, and Nancy MacLean.
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...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
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.
www.nbcnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:45 AM
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...
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
November 19, 2025 at 12:59 AM
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
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...
Read LDF’s statement.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
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...
www.naacpldf.org
November 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
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...
Read LDF’s statement.
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
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 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...
www.naacpldf.org
November 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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. So thrilled to welcome another incredible member to the LDF Senior Leadership Team - 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 ...
www.naacpldf.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 PM
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...
Ahmaud Arbery’s parents relieved after court upholds hate crime convictions.
www.ajc.com/news/2025/11...
www.ajc.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:52 AM
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...
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.
Make it your weekend listen.
📽️ NEW VIDEO: @janainelson.bsky.social President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, joins @marcelias.bsky.social to expose how democracy is shaped by race and power.
She explains how SCOTUS is rolling back hard-won rights — and what it will take to build a truly multiracial democracy👇
She explains how SCOTUS is rolling back hard-won rights — and what it will take to build a truly multiracial democracy👇
Why Courts Have Failed the Voting Rights Movement
Janai Nelson, Civil Rights Attorney & President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, joins Marc Elias to expose how America’s democracy is still shaped by race and power. From the gutting of the Voting Rights Act to the fight over representation in states l...
bit.ly
November 14, 2025 at 10:44 PM
PODCAST ALERT: Important conversation with @DemocracyDocket.bsky.social’s Marc Elias about the future of redistricting.
Make it your weekend listen.
Make it your weekend listen.
@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...
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
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 ...
www.naacpldf.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:36 AM
@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...
www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...
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
November 12, 2025 at 2:01 AM
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
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...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
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...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
After Law Firm Deals With Trump, D.C. Bar Warns of Ethical Jeopardy
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:56 PM
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...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
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@$& group. Check it out.
theroot100.com/nominee_list...
It’s a pretty kick@$& group. Check it out.
theroot100.com/nominee_list...
Janai Nelson
theroot100.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
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@$& group. Check it out.
theroot100.com/nominee_list...
It’s a pretty kick@$& group. Check it out.
theroot100.com/nominee_list...
LDF Condemns Supreme Court Decision Allowing Discrimination Against Transgender People -
x.com/jnelsonldf/s...
x.com/jnelsonldf/s...
x.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:24 PM
LDF Condemns Supreme Court Decision Allowing Discrimination Against Transgender People -
x.com/jnelsonldf/s...
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.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Pass it on.
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Pass it on.
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
November 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
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.
Turning out despite the fatigue.
Using our power with determination and expert discernment.
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Black voters do it again.
Turning out despite the fatigue.
Using our power with determination and expert discernment.
Turning out despite the fatigue.
Using our power with determination and expert discernment.