Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 6d

Congratulations to the Gullah-Geechee community on this historic win for land preservation. Georgia’s highest court sides with slave descendants fighting to protect threatened island community apnews.com/article/gull...

Georgia's highest court sides with slave descendants fighting to protect threatened island community

Georgia's highest court is siding with Black landowners in a zoning dispute affecting a historic Gullah-Geechee community.

apnews.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 8d

Well, isn’t this great? Yet? Again? Asking for the millions of tax-paying Americans who will suffer needlessly because of this circus called an administration.

Government Shuts Down After Senate Spending Votes Fail
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

Trump Administration Live Updates: U.S. Begins Shutdown That Could Lead to Mass Layoffs and Service Cuts

www.nytimes.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 9d

LDF is proud to join this important effort to denounce the baseless targeting of civil society.

Progressive nonprofits condemn Trump's targeting of George Soros and his foundations apnews.com/article/atta...

Progressive nonprofits condemn Trump's targeting of George Soros and his foundations

Dozens of progressive nonprofits condemned President Donald Trump’s general attacks on his political opponents and a specific report of a potential investigation into billionaire George Soros’ philant...

apnews.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 10d

Powerful new piece by Nikole Hannah Jones on the mainstreaming of extremism via collective tragedy and trauma.

What the Public Memory of Charlie Kirk Revealed www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/m...

What the Public Memory of Charlie Kirk Revealed

www.nytimes.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 10d

Still heartbroken over the passing of freedom fighter Assata Olugbala Shakur who died in exile in Cuba. Assata means “she who struggles” and she never left the struggle even during her decades of asylum. May she rest in peace and power—and as an example of undaunted resistance & resilience.

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 12d

Former Fed Chairs Urge Supreme Court to Protect Fed Independence in support of Lisa Cook

www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

Former Fed Chairs Urge Supreme Court to Protect Fed Independence

Leading U.S. economic policymakers over the last 35 years, including every living former chair of the Federal Reserve, urged the Supreme Court to allow Fed governor Lisa Cook to rem

www.wsj.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 13d

The Comey indictment coupled with today’s executive order targeting so-called antifa groups and supporters is another significant acceleration in our descent as a nation to one marked by overt political retribution and absolute abuse of executive power.
www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Develops New Strategy to Counter Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence

COUNTERING DOMESTIC TERRORISM: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) establishing a comprehensive

www.whitehouse.gov

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 13d

BREAKING: Despite the lack of clear evidence and ethical concerns about bringing a case without clear probable cause,per sources, Halligan sought an indictment of FMR FBI Director James Comey days after Trump demanded DOJ move 'now' to prosecute enemies. abcnews.go.com/US/former-fb...

Former FBI Director James Comey indicted days after Trump demanded his DOJ move 'now' to prosecute enemies

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted just days after President Trump issued a public demand for the DOJ to act "now" to prosecute him, sources say.

abcnews.go.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 16d

Trump-known violator of housing discrimination laws-forced HUD employees to discriminate on taxpayers' dime according to whistleblowers. Housing discrim exacerbates segregation & concentrated poverty. LDF's fight for fair housing just got turbocharged.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/r...

Trump Appointees Roll Back Enforcement of Fair Housing Laws

www.nytimes.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 18d

Legacy Civil Rights Organizations Condemn House Resolution Glorifying Charlie Kirk’s Record and Call for Meaningful Action to Address Hate - www.naacpldf.org/news/legacy-...

Legacy Civil Rights Organizations Condemn House Resolution Glorifying Charlie Kirk’s Record and Call for Meaningful Action to Address Hate

Read a PDF of our statement here. A coalition of leading civil rights organizations issued the following statement in response to recent developments, including the passage of House Resolution 719. Wh...

www.naacpldf.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 18d

LDF Mourns the Loss of Agnes Gund, Devoted Philanthropist and Advocate for Social Good - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

LDF Mourns the Loss of Agnes Gund, Devoted Philanthropist and Advocate for Social Good

Read a PDF of our statement here. The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the passing of Agnes Gund, a devoted philanthropist whose enduring commitment to racial and social justice left a l...

www.naacpldf.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 19d

Members of the House just passed H.Res.719 by a 310-58 vote including the following CBC members: Minority Leader Jeffries (NY), Rep. Don Davis (NC), Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY).

clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025282

Roll Call 282 Roll Call 282, Bill Number: H. Res. 719, 119th Congress, 1st Session

VOTE QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution, DESCRIPTION: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, VOTE TYPE: Yea-And-Nay, STATUS: Passed

clerk.house.gov

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 20d

At a time when our fed govt has launched a war on truth and history-incl’g erasing the contributions of Black ppl in the making and molding of our country-lawmakers face a choice about who and what they will lionize in this moment. Denouncing violence does not require the veneration of vile beliefs.

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 21d

LDF Files Amicus Brief Opposing National Guard Deployment in D.C. www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

LDF Files Amicus Brief Opposing National Guard Deployment in D.C.

This week, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) filed an amicus brief in District of Columbia v. Trump, urging the court to grant the request for a preliminary injunction to enjoin the administration’s deploy...

www.naacpldf.org

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Reposted by Janai Nelson

Legal Defense Fund @legaldefensefund.bsky.social · 22d

It’s never too late to check your voter registration status!

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 22d

Your voice matters in every election, not just the presidential ones. 🗳 This #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, take a moment to be sure you’re registered and ready to vote. To register or confirm your status, visit @legaldefensefund.bsky.social’s resources at voting.naacpldf.org.

Voting Rights 2025 | Legal Defense Fund

Check your voter registration, get important election information and learn more about LDF's work to protect voting rights.

voting.naacpldf.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 22d

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s death is a tragedy under any circumstances. There are disturbingly familiar historical markers. Delta State and local law enforcement owe his family, the students, and the broader community full transparency and swift action. Skepticism can only be countered with facts.

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 22d

Political violence is an old evil that has haunted this country long before it became a republic. We must be able to parse our disdain for it in all forms from the duty to call out undeniable hate-mongering & demagoguery masquerading as valor & righteousness. www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 23d

BREAKING: Appeals court denies Trump bid to remove Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook politi.co/3IdXFkg via @politico

Appeals court denies Trump bid to remove Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook

The Trump administration is likely to race to the Supreme Court before Tuesday’s Fed meeting.

politi.co

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Reposted by Janai Nelson

Legal Defense Fund @legaldefensefund.bsky.social · 23d

Today we honor the Black children killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing a cruel act of racist terror. Their loss fuels our fight for justice and peace. Say their names: Addie Mae, Denise, Carole, Cynthia, Virgil Ware, and Johnny. We must never forget.

#BlackHistory #CivilRights

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 24d

#OTD we celebrate the birth of one of the most extraordinary lawyers and jurists this country has even known: Constance Baker Motley. She broke boundaries, barriers and the back of Jim Crow as LDF’s 1st Black woman litigator, Supreme Court oralist, Manhattan Borough President & federal judge. #GOAT

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 26d

Our democracy stands at a crossroads, a path of infinite promise … on the one hand, and one of immeasurable and irretrievable demise on the other. The assault on Black communities envisioned by Project 2025 will almost certainly condemn us to demise.
blackpressusa.com/america-drag...

America Dragged Back to Jim Crow as Trump’s Project 2025 Reshapes the Nation

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — America is no longer drifting toward authoritarianism. It is living it. Project 2025 has been instituted, and the results are clear.

blackpressusa.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 28d

LDF Condemns the Fatal Shooting of Charlie Kirk - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

LDF Condemns the Fatal Shooting of Charlie Kirk

Legal Defense Fund (LDF) President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement in response to the fatal shooting of self-described right-wing activist and media personality Charli...

www.naacpldf.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 29d

Judge blocks Trump’s bid to fire Lisa Cook from Federal Reserve board politi.co/4693TK1 via @politico

Judge blocks Trump’s bid to fire Lisa Cook from Federal Reserve board

Federal law gives Trump the power to fire members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors “for cause,” which typically means serious misconduct or malfeasance on the job.

politi.co

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · Sep 7

The war on truth, though less visible than the misdeployment of the National Guard, is at the core of the extremist takeover of our country and we’re fighting back: In a new brief LDF & @splcenter say Oklahoma’s HB 1775 violates students’ 1st Amendment rights. #WATCH
www.koco.com/article/okla...

Oklahoma law banning critical race theory faces legal challenge

Two national groups have filed a brief challenging an Oklahoma law that restricts the teaching of critical race theory, arguing it violates the First Amendment.

www.koco.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · Sep 5

DC sues Trump administration to stop National Guard deployment thehill.com/regulation/c...

thehill.com

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