FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-December 3, 2020 Artists & Advocates Join Forces to Call for an Equitable and Just City Budget Election Day Power and Praise Giveaway   The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) and our partners will be joining forces to give out care boxes with food, masks, hygiene products, and voter education materials.  BATON ROUGE, LA | December 3, …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–November 16, 2020 Artists & Advocates Join Forces to Call for an Equitable and Just City Budget   As the New Orleans City Council winds down its hearings on the 2021 city budget, artists and advocates will join forces for an event at Ashè Cultural Center on Tuesday, November 17, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., to demand that Mayor …

Power Coalition & Partners to Provide Rides to the Polls & Voter Protection on Election Day    The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) and our partners will be joining forces to protect voters and provide rides to the polls all Election Day long. Louisiana voters can visit powercoalition.org to find their polling place, sample ballot, a ride to the …

LaKeshia Barnett avoids contact with the public in her job at the U.S. Postal Service, where she wears a mask and practices social distancing to the fullest extent possible. She is worried about infecting family members who are battling health conditions including asthma and hypertension that heighten their risk of dying from COVID-19. Barnett, 26, has voted regularly since first …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–October 30, 2020 In Wake of Hurricane Zeta, Power Coalition, NAACP LDF, ADL ask Sec. of State Ardoin to Extend Absentee Voting Deadlines     With Hurricane Zeta having knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of Louisianans in the run up to Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, NAACP Legal Defense & …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–October 28, 2020 Power Coalition Executive Director Ashley Shelton to Join Webinar to Launch “Portrait of Louisiana 2020” Report on Thurs., Oct. 29   A new report from Measure of America, “A Portrait of Louisiana 2020,” shows that the pandemic could significantly worsen statewide disparities in well-being, with the analysis broken down by race, place, and gender to show …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–October 23, 2020 The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, Voice of the Experienced (VOTE) & others to host 10 early voting events statewide to celebrate Early Voting Day, Saturday, Oct. 24.  The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, Voice of the Experienced (VOTE) & others to host 10 early voting events statewide to celebrate Early Voting Day, …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–October 17, 2020 Voters Overcome Long Lines in West Jefferson Parish   Concerns about polling locations not being able to handle a rush of voters were unfortunately borne out on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, as voters have been forced to wait in line for hours to vote at the Charles Odom Building in Marrero. NEW ORLEANS, LA …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–October 16, 2020 Every Day of Early Voting is Election Day!   Early voting opens in Louisiana today, Friday, October 16, and runs through Tuesday, October 27 (except on Sundays). Polls are open from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and our partners want to make sure that every day of Early Voting …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–October 11, 2020 Workers to Rally on Capitol Steps Monday Morning Before House Labor Committee Hearing   Louisiana’s workers are hurting, and tomorrow, Monday, October 12, they will head to the Capitol to make their case to the state legislature that they need more support during these difficult times. Unemployed workers, labor unions, and advocates will hold a rally …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–September 17, 2020 Federal Judge Rules that Louisiana Must Expand Early Voting, Vote-By-Mail Options   In a decision handed down on Wednesday, Federal District Court Judge Shelly Dick ruled that Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin must extend early voting and expand vote-by-mail options for the state’s November and December elections. NEW ORLEANS, LA | September 17, 2020—On Wednesday, September …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–September 14, 2020 Power Coalition Hosts Census Week, Voting Mass Meeting & Redistricting Academies Amid Voting Lawsuit Hearings   While a federal judge was holding hearings last week on our lawsuit over Louisiana’s November and December election plan, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice continued to fight for people power outside the courtroom as well. We spent the …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–September 4, 2020 Federal Judge to Hear Louisiana Election Lawsuit on Tuesday & Wednesday   The plaintiffs (who include the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice) in the lawsuit over Louisiana’s election rules for November and December will present their case on Tuesday, September 8, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., followed by the defendants on Wednesday during those …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–September 3, 2020 Hurricane Laura Victims Are Suffering in Silence   Hurricane Laura was yet another blow to a state that was already suffering from a cascading set of disasters. Now, it appears the immense damage caused by the storm, and the recovery and relief efforts that are needed, have almost entirely disappeared from the public consciousness outside of …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–August 25, 2020 Federal Court to Hold Status Hearing on Lawsuit Challenging Louisiana’s Election Plan   Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26, Judge Shelly Dick will preside over a status hearing on the lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s emergency election plans (or lack thereof). This is the next major step in the legal process that will likely determine the state’s election rules for …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–August 4, 2020 With State Government at an Impasse Over Election Plan, Lawsuit Likely to Decide Issue   Yesterday, Gov. Edwards made it clear that he will not sign the current version of Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s Emergency Election Plan, which will still be heard in front of the House & Governmental Affairs committee this morning. Deadlock over …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–August 4, 2020 Louisiana Unemployed Power Coalition for Equity and Justice Joins NAACP Election Lawsuit  This week, the Trump Administration announced its plan to cut the 2020 Census deadline short by one month, moving it from October 31 to September 30. Critics argue that the move is intended to disenfranchise poor communities and communities of color.   NEW ORLEANS, …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–August 4, 2020 Louisiana Unemployed Power Coalition for Equity and Justice Joins NAACP Election Lawsuit  Yesterday, Monday, August 3, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and Covington and Burling, LLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, and three individual voters challenging Louisiana’s …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–July 29, 2020 Louisiana Unemployed Workers to Visit Regional Offices of Sens. Cassidy & Kennedy to Demand Continuation of $600 Unemployment Benefit Tomorrow, Thursday, July 30, unemployed workers across Louisiana will visit the regional offices of Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy to demand that they support extending the $600 unemployment benefits that have kept our people, our …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–July 28, 2020 Advocates Reach Out to Sec. of State Ardoin About Emergency Election Plan for the Fall Earlier today, more than 25 Louisiana advocacy organizations joined a letter that was sent to Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin asking for an Emergency Election Plan for the fall elections, and offering suggestions about what needs to be included in …

The Southern Poverty Law Center today announced the first 12 organizations to receive grants from its Vote Your Voice initiative – a program investing up to $30 million in organizations across the Deep South working to conduct voter registration, education and mobilization activities among people of color over the next several election cycles. The initiative is focused on increasing the number of …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–July 21, 2020 Louisiana Mayors to Discuss Federal Aid for Local Governments During Tele-Town Hall Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22, at 5:00 p.m., the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and the Louisiana Budget Project will co-host a tele-town hall with three Louisiana mayors–Shreveport Mayor Adrien Perkins, East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, and New Roads Mayor Cornell …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–July 15, 2020 Power Coalition’s July 11 Louisiana Election Report Louisiana’s twice-delayed Presidential Primary elections, which finally took place this past Saturday, July 11, were a test of how well the state can conduct elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate we have a lot of work to do. NEW ORLEANS, LA | July 15, 2020—The Presidential …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEKiren Marshall, The Leadership Conference, marshall@civilrights.orgPhoebe Plagens, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. 212.965.2235, pplagens@naacpldf.org WASHINGTON –  The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and All Voting is Local, with its joint And Still I Vote℠ campaign, along with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc, will hold a Facebook Live event on Tuesday, July 7, at 5:30 p.m. …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–July 1, 2020 Louisiana House Unanimously Passes House Resolution 46 The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice teamed up with Step Up Louisiana, the Louisiana Budget Project, and State Rep. Ted James to help pass House Resolution 46. NEW ORLEANS, LA | July 1, 2020—On Monday, June 29, the Louisiana legislature passed House Resolution 46, by Rep. Ted …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 30, 2020 Power Coalition Announces Three Staff Additions During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice has managed to expand our work. The key to building on our statewide civic engagement, community organizing, and policy advocacy has been the additions of three new staff members whose knowledge and skills have helped us reach new …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 26, 2020 Looking Back on a Powerful Juneteenth Week The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and our partners celebrated Juneteenth by fighting for racial justice in a weeklong series of events and actions. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 26, 2020—Juneteenth couldn’t have come at a better time this year. It gave us an opportunity to add …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 24, 2020 Judge’s Ruling Means Louisiana Voters Won’t Get Same Access to Ballot as Most Other Americans On Monday, June 22, a federal judge ruled that several plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit seeking to expand mail-in voting access for this year’s elections did not have standing in the case. The ruling ultimately means that Louisiana will not …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 23, 2020 Dynisha Hugle Becomes First Black Woman in National Network to Lead Statewide Data Department The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is proud to announce the promotion of Dynisha Hugle to Statewide Data & Targeting Director. At just 25 years old, Ms. Hugle will become the first Black woman to run a statewide data department …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 19, 2020 Celebrating Juneteenth: Looking Back and Looking Forward Today, Friday, June 19, is officially Juneteenth–the holiday where we celebrate when the last African-Americans were emancipated, in Texas, on June 19, 1865. All week, the Power Coalition and our partners have been creating space for community and fighting for modern-day liberation, and we will continue to do …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 17, 2020 “I Am A Man”: Power Coalition Supports Striking Sanitation Workers Today, Wednesday, June 17, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice will continue our Juneteenth Week of Action with a day of support for striking New Orleans sanitation workers. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 17, 2020—The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ–http://powercoalition.org) will continue …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 16, 2020 Power Coalition’s Juneteenth Week Continues with a Census Day of Action & Virtual Collegiate Kickback The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice continues our Juneteenth Week of Action on Tuesday, June 16, with a Census Day of Action and virtual collegiate kickback. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 16, 2020—As part of our Juneteenth Week celebration, …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 15, 2020 Power Coalition to Kick-Off Juneteenth Week with Interfaith Healing & Day of Action Today, at 12:00 p.m., the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice will be hosting an Interfaith Day of Healing & Action to kick off our “Journey to Equity and Justice” week of Juneteenth events. Leaders from several different faith traditions will be …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 12, 2020 Celebrate Juneteenth Week with the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice As part of the Power Coalition’s “Journey to Equity and Justice,” we will celebrate the Juneteenth holiday (June 19) with a series of events from Monday, June 15 – Saturday, June 20. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 12, 2020—On June 19, 1865, the Governor …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–June 3, 2020 Power Coalition for Equity and Justice Calls for Reflection, Action & Systemic Change Now is the time for us to ask each other and ourselves difficult questions, and to explore the answers to those questions honestly. But we also have to turn those reflections into action to change the systems that have marginalized people for …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–May 7, 2020 LDF Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Louisiana Voting Requirements That Put Voters at Risk Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and the firm Covington & Burling, LLP filed a federal lawsuit challenging voting requirements imposed by the State of Louisiana, including restrictions on the use of absentee mail-in ballots, …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–May 7, 2020 Councilmember Brossett and Colleagues Adopt Resolution to Suspend of Residential Evictions During COVID-19 NEW ORLEANS – The Council adopted Resolution R-20-110 by District “D” Councilmember Jared Brossett urging New Orleans First and Second City Court officials to suspend residential evictions until August 24, 2020, the deadline established in the federal CARES Act. The many changes …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–May 2, 2020 Advocates Object to Legislature’s Timing  In a letter to Senate President Cortez and House Speaker Schexnayder, more than 20 advocacy organizations object to the timing of the state legislature re-convening. NEW ORLEANS, LA | May 2, 2020—The COVID pandemic, and its resulting loss of life and livelihood, has hit Louisiana hard. The state legislature knows …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–April 28, 2020 Kenya Slaughter Never Planned to be a Front-line Worker, but That’s Exactly What She’s Become Kenya Slaughter, an organizer and a frontline worker at a Dollar General in Alexandria, LA, wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times this past Sunday talking about how she never expected to become a frontline worker, and how …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–April 22, 2020 Louisiana Legislature to Consider New Emergency Election Plan This Morning After failing to approve Secretary of State Kye Ardoin’s emergency election plan last week, the Senate and the House & Governmental Affairs Committees are set to consider a new version this morning. NEW ORLEANS, LA | April 22, 2020—After getting his initial emergency election plan …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–April 16, 2020 Senate Committee Kills Emergency Election Plan Yesterday, the Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee deferred on voting on the Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s emergency election plan, potentially putting voters’ health and lives at risk during the upcoming presidential primary and municipal elections NEW ORLEANS, LA | April 16, 2020—Yesterday, Wednesday, April 15, the Senate & …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–April 14, 2020 Louisiana Advocacy Groups to Monitor Secretary of State’s Emergency Election Plan More than two dozen Louisiana advocacy organizations plan to protect democracy by fighting for the elections and voting measures they outlined in a recently released list of comprehensive policy demands and ideas for an equitable COVID-19 response and recovery. NEW ORLEANS, LA | April …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–​April 13, 2020 Advocacy Groups Release Comprehensive Roadmap to an Equitable COVID-19 Response and Recovery Louisiana advocacy organizations and nonprofits release comprehensive list of policy demands and ideas to help guide Gov. Edwards, state legislators, local officials, and other public and private stakeholders to develop a racially and economically equitable COVID-19 response and recovery. NEW ORLEANS, LA | …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–March 17, 2020 DOZENS OF CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS DEMAND CORONAVIRUS PRECAUTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN STATE PRISONS, JAILS AND FEDERAL DETENTION IN THE DEEP SOUTH Montgomery, Alabama — With the coronavirus spreading quickly across the country, dozens of civil rights groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center, (SPLC) are demanding that the federal government and Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida officials ensure that …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–​March 17 2020 Power Coalition for Equity and Justice Informs Louisiana’s Communities About Local Resources During Outbreak The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice has turned our website–powercoalition.org–into an emergency resources page for communities across Louisiana. We will update it as new information becomes available. NEW ORLEANS, LA | March 16, 2020—The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice …