Alora Thomas-Lundborg
@alorathomas.bsky.social
Civil rights lawyer. Currently the strategic director of litigation and advocacy at the Charles Hamilton Institute for Race & Justice @HLS. Formerly @ACLU. Opinions my own. Re-"skeets" not endorsements (I guess that is what they are called). She/her/hers
Pinned
Introducing myself. I am a civil rights attorney, specializing in voting rights. I did not tweet much, but want to be more involved here. I spend a lot of time thinking about race and democracy.
Spent the morning with the team defending democracy at SCOTUS.
March 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Spent the morning with the team defending democracy at SCOTUS.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Five years ago, Breonna Taylor—an EMT who dedicated her life to others—was killed in her own home. We say her name in reverence and restitution.
The fight to end police brutality continues.
The fight to end police brutality continues.
March 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Five years ago, Breonna Taylor—an EMT who dedicated her life to others—was killed in her own home. We say her name in reverence and restitution.
The fight to end police brutality continues.
The fight to end police brutality continues.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Events in Selma in 1965 led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Now Congress is considering the SAVE Act, which would be to most restrictive federal voting law ever.
The Fight to Vote Continues
Voter suppression persists 60 years after Alabama’s Bloody Sunday.
www.brennancenter.org
March 13, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Events in Selma in 1965 led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Now Congress is considering the SAVE Act, which would be to most restrictive federal voting law ever.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
NEW: Utah Republicans have passed legislation that would end universal vote-by-mail in their state.
Utah stood out for a while as the rare red state to really embrace mail voting... but the MAGA attacks on the voting procedures have ended up catching even with this state.
Utah stood out for a while as the rare red state to really embrace mail voting... but the MAGA attacks on the voting procedures have ended up catching even with this state.
Utah Was a Rare Red State to Champion Mail Voting. That Era Is Likely Ending. - Bolts
An old-fashioned, four-legged polling booth is on display in the lobby of the Salt Lake County clerk’s office. Its metal frame roughened and its red, white, and blue privacy curtain... Read More
boltsmag.org
March 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
NEW: Utah Republicans have passed legislation that would end universal vote-by-mail in their state.
Utah stood out for a while as the rare red state to really embrace mail voting... but the MAGA attacks on the voting procedures have ended up catching even with this state.
Utah stood out for a while as the rare red state to really embrace mail voting... but the MAGA attacks on the voting procedures have ended up catching even with this state.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
The Trump administration illegally arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent graduate of Columbia University, in direct retaliation for his advocacy. The government must immediately release him from custody.
March 11, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The Trump administration illegally arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent graduate of Columbia University, in direct retaliation for his advocacy. The government must immediately release him from custody.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
The symbolism here is undeniable. The political capitulation.
The intentional erasure.
The physical destruction.
The weaponization of government.
This is a stark visualization of the war on people and progress.
The intentional erasure.
The physical destruction.
The weaponization of government.
This is a stark visualization of the war on people and progress.
March 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The symbolism here is undeniable. The political capitulation.
The intentional erasure.
The physical destruction.
The weaponization of government.
This is a stark visualization of the war on people and progress.
The intentional erasure.
The physical destruction.
The weaponization of government.
This is a stark visualization of the war on people and progress.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Historian here:
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
March 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Historian here:
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Tune in to the inaugural State of the People 24-Hour Marathon to discuss the true state of our union, dispel the disinformation, reject the propaganda.This is information for the people. #StateOfThePeople
blackstarnews.com/inaugural-st...
blackstarnews.com/inaugural-st...
Inaugural State Of The People 24-Hour Livestream Featuring America’s Leading Black Activists, Journalists, Elected Officials Starts Monday March 3rd - Black Star News
blackstarnews.com
March 3, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Tune in to the inaugural State of the People 24-Hour Marathon to discuss the true state of our union, dispel the disinformation, reject the propaganda.This is information for the people. #StateOfThePeople
blackstarnews.com/inaugural-st...
blackstarnews.com/inaugural-st...
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
If the SAVE Act becomes law, it would upend most methods of voter registration, including registering online and by mail. It’s ill-conceived and anti-voter.
SAVE Act Would Undermine Voter Registration for All Americans
Congress should reject this antidemocratic and ill-conceived bill.
www.brennancenter.org
March 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
If the SAVE Act becomes law, it would upend most methods of voter registration, including registering online and by mail. It’s ill-conceived and anti-voter.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
112 years ago today, thousands of women marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in the first national suffrage procession, demanding the right to vote. Learn about the march and other key events that paved the way for women's suffrage:
The 19th Amendment, Explained
It took more than a century of fighting by generations of activists to achieve suffrage for all American women.
www.brennancenter.org
March 3, 2025 at 8:09 PM
112 years ago today, thousands of women marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in the first national suffrage procession, demanding the right to vote. Learn about the march and other key events that paved the way for women's suffrage:
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Road to the VRA:
60 years ago today, more than 4000 attend funerals for Jimmie Lee Jackson first in Selma and then in his hometown of Marion.
After the Marion service, more than 1000 then walk three miles in rain from the church to his burial place.
60 years ago today, more than 4000 attend funerals for Jimmie Lee Jackson first in Selma and then in his hometown of Marion.
After the Marion service, more than 1000 then walk three miles in rain from the church to his burial place.
March 3, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Road to the VRA:
60 years ago today, more than 4000 attend funerals for Jimmie Lee Jackson first in Selma and then in his hometown of Marion.
After the Marion service, more than 1000 then walk three miles in rain from the church to his burial place.
60 years ago today, more than 4000 attend funerals for Jimmie Lee Jackson first in Selma and then in his hometown of Marion.
After the Marion service, more than 1000 then walk three miles in rain from the church to his burial place.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
An important statement from the American Bar Association. www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...
March 3, 2025 at 11:35 PM
An important statement from the American Bar Association. www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
For years, VMI refused to admit women on the view that doing so would undermine its educational mission. RBG wrote the SCOTUS decision holding the single-sex policy unconstitutional.
Today, VMI fired its Black superintendent for being too "woke"
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/u...
Today, VMI fired its Black superintendent for being too "woke"
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/u...
The First Black Leader of Virginia Military Institute Is Ousted (Gift Article)
The college’s board decided not to renew the contract of its superintendent, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, who led diversity efforts and removed a Confederate statue on campus.
www.nytimes.com
March 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
For years, VMI refused to admit women on the view that doing so would undermine its educational mission. RBG wrote the SCOTUS decision holding the single-sex policy unconstitutional.
Today, VMI fired its Black superintendent for being too "woke"
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/u...
Today, VMI fired its Black superintendent for being too "woke"
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/u...
Black voter worried about the state of democracy check out this post by our research assistant about why a change to proportional representation might fix what is broken: houstoninstitute.substack.com/p/black-subs... #blacksky
Black Substantive Representation and its elusiveness under “Winner-Take-All”
Black Americans have long fought for equal representation in American democracy.
houstoninstitute.substack.com
February 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Black voter worried about the state of democracy check out this post by our research assistant about why a change to proportional representation might fix what is broken: houstoninstitute.substack.com/p/black-subs... #blacksky
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Again, there are federal criminal laws that forbid conflicts of interest without prior written certifications, and by law, those certifications generally must be made available to the public. bsky.app/profile/jama...
EXCLUSIVE: Elon Musk's SpaceX is seeking to deploy Starlink satellite internet terminals to help upgrade the FAA's national airspace system.
Musk Seeks to Install Starlink Terminals in US Airspace Network
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is seeking to deploy Starlink satellite internet terminals to help accelerate an upgrade of the information technology networks that support the US Federal Aviation Administration’s...
www.bloomberg.com
February 25, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Again, there are federal criminal laws that forbid conflicts of interest without prior written certifications, and by law, those certifications generally must be made available to the public. bsky.app/profile/jama...
I was lucky emough to hear @joyannreid.bsky.social speak and get her book signed last fall. If you want to continue to support her in her transition I highly recommend you go out and purchase one her books. You might learn something too. 😉
February 25, 2025 at 3:35 AM
I was lucky emough to hear @joyannreid.bsky.social speak and get her book signed last fall. If you want to continue to support her in her transition I highly recommend you go out and purchase one her books. You might learn something too. 😉
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
This is absolutely--and I cannot stress this enough--not how it is supposed to work. An Executive without functioning internal checks is a constitutional crisis no matter what courts are doing. Courts are a last resort when the Executive is acting unlawfully, and an extremely limited one at that.
A leading liberal legal scholar weighs in on the current moment.
No comment.
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
No comment.
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
February 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
This is absolutely--and I cannot stress this enough--not how it is supposed to work. An Executive without functioning internal checks is a constitutional crisis no matter what courts are doing. Courts are a last resort when the Executive is acting unlawfully, and an extremely limited one at that.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
The Justice Department has ordered lawyers in its civil rights division to halt, at least temporarily, all pending litigation and not to file any new cases.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Justice Department freezes all cases in civil rights division
The memo doesn’t state how long the freeze will last, but it essentially shuts down the civil rights division for at least the first weeks of the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
The Justice Department has ordered lawyers in its civil rights division to halt, at least temporarily, all pending litigation and not to file any new cases.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/u...
Trump Grants Sweeping Clemency to All Jan. 6 Rioters (Gift Article)
The extraordinary pardons and commutations extended to those who committed both violent and nonviolent crimes on Jan. 6, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/u...
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Yesterday, President Trump revoked former President Biden's voting access executive order. It directed federal agencies to provide eligible voters, regardless of political party, access to voting opportunities and reliable voter info in the regular course of their lives 1/
January 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Yesterday, President Trump revoked former President Biden's voting access executive order. It directed federal agencies to provide eligible voters, regardless of political party, access to voting opportunities and reliable voter info in the regular course of their lives 1/
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Donald Trump lagged behind Kamala Harris in traditional campaign donations, subject to disclosure, but made up that gap by relying on super PACs and wealthy donors — thanks to Citizens United.
Fifteen Years Later, Citizens United Defined the 2024 Election
The influence of wealthy donors and dark money was unprecedented. Much of it would have been illegal before the Supreme Court swept away long-established campaign finance rules.
www.brennancenter.org
January 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Donald Trump lagged behind Kamala Harris in traditional campaign donations, subject to disclosure, but made up that gap by relying on super PACs and wealthy donors — thanks to Citizens United.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
Trump has set up a direct showdown on the 14th Amendment. This is not a test of Trump. This is a challenge to the remaining shreds of integrity of this Court which, when it comes to the 14th Amendment has shown little regard for original meaning, text, history & tradition or fairness.
January 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Trump has set up a direct showdown on the 14th Amendment. This is not a test of Trump. This is a challenge to the remaining shreds of integrity of this Court which, when it comes to the 14th Amendment has shown little regard for original meaning, text, history & tradition or fairness.
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
“Trump Grants Sweeping Clemency to All Jan. 6 Rioters” electionlawblog.org?p=148277
It is hard to know what to even say about this affront to the rule of law and a reversing of the convictions of those who sought to overturn the results of a fair and legitimate election in 2020. 1/2
It is hard to know what to even say about this affront to the rule of law and a reversing of the convictions of those who sought to overturn the results of a fair and legitimate election in 2020. 1/2
"Trump Grants Sweeping Clemency to All Jan. 6 Rioters" #ELB
It is hard to know what to even say about this affront to the rule of law and a reversing of the convictions of those who sought to overturn the results of a fair and legitimate election in 2020. Trum...
electionlawblog.org
January 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“Trump Grants Sweeping Clemency to All Jan. 6 Rioters” electionlawblog.org?p=148277
It is hard to know what to even say about this affront to the rule of law and a reversing of the convictions of those who sought to overturn the results of a fair and legitimate election in 2020. 1/2
It is hard to know what to even say about this affront to the rule of law and a reversing of the convictions of those who sought to overturn the results of a fair and legitimate election in 2020. 1/2
Reposted by Alora Thomas-Lundborg
“When women are free to make their own decisions about their lives and to follow our dreams, we are unstoppable.”
Cecile was a force of nature. May her memory be a blessing.
19thnews.org/2025/01/ceci...
Cecile was a force of nature. May her memory be a blessing.
19thnews.org/2025/01/ceci...
Cecile Richards, former Planned Parenthood president and feminist activist, has died
Richards died Monday of an aggressive brain cancer. She was 67.
19thnews.org
January 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
“When women are free to make their own decisions about their lives and to follow our dreams, we are unstoppable.”
Cecile was a force of nature. May her memory be a blessing.
19thnews.org/2025/01/ceci...
Cecile was a force of nature. May her memory be a blessing.
19thnews.org/2025/01/ceci...
We all wait for what the new terms and conditions will be. I’m old enough yo remember the back starting 5 years ago during the last Trump presidency. #tiktokban #stillconcerned
January 19, 2025 at 8:13 PM
We all wait for what the new terms and conditions will be. I’m old enough yo remember the back starting 5 years ago during the last Trump presidency. #tiktokban #stillconcerned