Denounce the DOJ’s Attack on the Southern Poverty Law Center

The Department of Justice is now targeting one of the nation’s most prominent civil rights organizations—and it should alarm every American who believes in accountability and the rule of law.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has spent decades tracking hate groups, defending civil rights, and holding extremists accountable in court. Now, instead of going after those who spread violence and extremism, the DOJ is trying to undermine and intimidate the very organization working to stop them.

This is a moment that demands clarity and courage. It’s critical for all of us to stand with the Southern Poverty Law Center and denounce these baseless charges before they set a dangerous precedent for silencing civil rights advocacy. As Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, warned, efforts like this are “a blatant affront to free speech and a troubling misuse of federal authority.”

Tell the Department of Justice: Drop these baseless charges and end any effort to undermine civil rights organizations. Add your name now to stand against this abuse of power and defend those fighting hate and extremism.

If organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center are weakened or silenced, communities across the country lose a critical line of defense against discrimination and violence. The people most at risk—immigrants, communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and religious minorities—will feel the consequences first and worst.

The DOJ has immense power to investigate, prosecute, and protect. That power must never be used to intimidate or punish those working to uphold justice. Public pressure can help ensure that decision-makers reconsider actions that threaten civil society and refocus on their core mission: protecting the public.

Add your name and stand up for civil rights, accountability, and the organizations that defend them every day.

The petition to the U.S. Department of Justice reads: “Stop any politically motivated investigation or prosecution targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center. Protect the independence of civil rights organizations and refocus federal law enforcement on combating extremism and defending the rights and safety of all communities.”