BATON ROUGE, La. — In a victory for fair maps, a federal court today ruled in favor of Louisiana voters, agreeing that the current state House and Senate district maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.  The plaintiffs who challenged the state legislative maps — the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, and several individual voters — are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Louisiana, Legal Defense Fund (LDF), law firm Cozen O’ Connor, and Louisiana attorneys Ron Wilson and John Adcock.  In its decision, the court condemned the packing and cracking of Black communities within the maps, emphasizing the importance of upholding the principles of equal representation for all citizens.   In response to these findings, the court has mandated remedial measures to rectify the discriminatory boundaries, ensuring that future elections reflect the true diversity of the Louisiana population....

BATON ROUGE, La. – A pivotal Mass Mobilization Event is set for Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 8 a.m. at the Louisiana Capitol Park Museum. Organized by Power Coalition, this event is a critical response to the special legislative session called by Gov. Jeff Landry, symbolically starting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, underscoring the ongoing struggle for racial equality and fair representation. Collaborators include NAACP LDF,SPLC, ACLU Louisiana, Step Up Louisiana, Bike N Vote, A Bella La Femme Society,A’sani Heartbeat Foundation, and Alabama Values. The event precedes the legislative session’s committee hearing and public testimony, starting with a training breakfast with legal experts Jared Evans and Victoria Wenger from the Legal Defense Fund.  Attendees will also receive additional education from the Power Coalition and other advocates regarding the ongoing fight for fair maps and how it’s connected to community issues.  The mass mobilization is designed to educate and prepare community members to use their voices during...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – BATON ROUGE, LA—The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice will host several Thanksgiving Holiday Foodbox Giveaways this Saturday November 18th on Election Day! The giveaways serve as an opportunity to meet the basic needs of community members, while also spreading awareness on the importance of actively participating in voting which is our civic duty. This election season has been exceptionally quiet in terms of turnout amongst some of the most vulnerable of populations and it is extremely important to center them and meet them where they are. Come by one of the following churches during the scheduled times, and pick up a food box and a sample ballot and amendment booklet on Election Day!  What: Thanksgiving Holiday Food Box Distribution  Where: Elm Grove Baptist Church:11 am until 1 pm.  Beacon Light of Baton Rouge: 2 pm until 4 pm. Shiloh Missionary Baptist church: 2pm until 4pm. Contact:...

BATON ROUGE, LA, November 7, 2023 – The Louisiana Paid Family Medical Leave Coalition is proud to celebrate a groundbreaking win for state employees – a new benefit that grants six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Through a pair of actions, state employees will now be entitled to six weeks of parental leave at 100% pay for birth, adoption, and foster care to promote bonding with a new child. A Louisiana State Civil Service Rule covers classified employees, and an executive order issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards covers unclassified employees and appointees. Approximately 70,000 state employees will be covered under the combined actions effective January 1, 2024. These landmark decisions are a testament to our state’s commitment to supporting working parents and promoting health equity. We proudly join a growing list of states, including Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas, that have already adopted similar paid parental leave...

Lafayette, LA, September 20, 2023 —A film commissioned by the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, titled “The Chamber Room” by local writer and director Natalie Spencer, will be screened, followed by a facilitated conversation regarding the film and voting at the Clifton Chenier Center Auditorium in Lafayette on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with screening at 6:30 p.m. This filmed play shares the voices of national civil rights leaders who pioneered the battle for African American voting rights with a young man not aware of the power of his vote and its relevance to his life. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Cultural Crossroads, a non-profit committed to preserving and promoting BIPOC cultural and artistic expression, hosted the Artspreneur: The Business of Art Conference in Baton Rouge last March. At the conference, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice granted four artists commissions themed “Your...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SHREVEPORT, LA, August 4, 2023 —A new mural commissioned by the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, titled “The Power of the Ballot” by local muralist KaDavien Baylor will be unveiled at the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity House in Shreveport on August 16, 2023, at 6:00 PM. This piece of art pays tribute to local and national civil rights leaders who pioneered the battle for African American voting rights in Shreveport, providing a significant reminder of past struggles and progress achieved. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Cultural Crossroads, a non-profit committed to preserving and promoting BIPOC cultural and artistic expression, hosted the Artspreneur: The Business of Art Conference in Baton Rouge last March. The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice granted four artists micro commissions themed “Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power.”  The awardees selected by conference attendees were KaDavien Baylor of Shreveport, David Jones II...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Baton Rouge, July 26th, 2023] – Mama’s Gun, the groundbreaking dance performance work commissioned by the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, will make its highly anticipated premiere at the Manship Theater in Baton Rouge on July 28-29, 2023 at 7:30 PM, with a reception preceding at 6:00 pm. Friday’s performance and reception are free and open to the public, 100 tickets are available at the box office by mentioning Power Coalition. Seating is limited. Created by choreographer and dance scholar, Roxi Victorian, this thought-provoking piece explores the complexities of motherhood within the Black community, shedding light on the experiences of mothers who have lost their children to racial and other forms of violence and discrimination. Originally conceived as a one-woman show examining the emotional and physical labor of mothering from infancy to adulthood, Mama’s Gun has evolved into a full-length performance for the concert stage. Victorian’s artistic...

Policy Will Curb Discrimination by City Contractors Against Job Applicants with Prior Convictions BATON ROUGE, LA—The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council voted 7-5 to approve an ordinance Wednesday that will require employers receiving money from the Parish to engage in “fair chance” hiring practices. The policy builds on a 2016 ordinance aimed at providing opportunities to apply for Parish jobs to formerly incarcerated persons or people with former convictions and expands it to cover public contractors as well. Under the ordinance, these employers will be required to first consider applicants on their merits—removing the “prior conviction box” from application forms and only conducting a background check if a conditional offer is presented. “A prior conviction should not be a scarlet letter that causes employers to shut the door on qualified job applicants,” said Lynda Turner, Baton Rouge Fair Chance member, who is formerly incarcerated. “This ordinance means more Baton...

BATON ROUGE – After deferring the Fair Chance Ordinance two weeks ago, the ordinance passed through the Metro Council by 7-5. The ordinance aims to help convicted criminals get a job with contractors in the City-Parish by stopping employers from asking potential hires about their criminal record until a proper assessment of their skills....

Private businesses that want to work with East Baton Rouge’s city-parish government will have to change their hiring process to comply with a new ordinance that advocates say will provide more opportunities for formerly incarcerated people.  The ordinance, which the Metro Council narrowly approved in a 7-to-5 vote Wednesday, bars contractors and sub-contractors doing work with the city-parish from asking job applicants about their criminal history until late in the hiring process....

For Immediate Release: April 3, 2023 The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice started their annual legislative roadshow on March 28th in New Orleans and March 30th in St. James. This legislative roadshow is aimed at being a space where legislators, advocates, and communities can come together to discuss the upcoming legislative session and the issues and policies that are of importance.  Community members will have an opportunity to learn more about the intricacies of the legislative session; such as the process of delivering testimony and the different house and senate committees. Legislators and advocates will share the legislation they are working to advance and answer any questions from the community.  “Not only is this year’s legislative session a fiscal session, it is also preceding an election where many seats are up for re-election, ” says Ashley Shelton, Founder, and CEO of the Power Coalition. “We want to empower community members...

For Immediate Release: February 27, 2023 “I keep on trying because I think I hear these words echoing in the clouds and bouncing off the mountaintop. I keep the faith because I believe that once again the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up and hope and history rhyme. My fondest hope is that you will too. We did it once and we can do it again.” -Ambassador James A. Joseph It is with a heavy heart that I memorialize one of my most influential mentors, Ambassador James A. Joseph. He lived a full life and I had the opportunity to learn from him very early on in my career as a part of his international leadership program at Duke University and the University of Cape Town, and then again as he chaired the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation after Hurricane Katrina. A native son from Opelousas, Louisiana who never forgot...

This week, in an Extraordinary Special Session, the Louisiana Legislature is discussing the authorization of $45 million in funding to entice insurance companies to return to the Louisiana markets. We think that this is a misguided approach that will lead to more harm than good. There are several key problems in this approach: 1. There is no guarantee that stable and reputable firms will come back to the market for these incentives. 2. Any insurers who do come back to the market will likely cherry pick from Louisiana Citizens customers with higher credit scores, higher incomes, and lower risk. There is also no guarantee that those customers will see significant savings or if they will be subjected to policies that provide skeletal coverage. Any investment of public dollars must benefit those who need help the most—those for whom the drastic increase is unsustainable for any significant amount of time. 3. This won’t...

For Immediate Release:  January 23, 2023 BATON ROUGE, LA— Tomorrow, January 24, 2023, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) will reconvene at 1 p.m. (CST) at the Claiborne Building in the Thomas Jefferson Room with others who are a part of the HCR 14 Disability Voting Task Force. The 13 member group came about after the 2022 Legislative Session as a way to study how the state could expand voting rights for those with disabilities.  “At Power Coalition we’re working to continue expanding voting access in Louisiana. As we work during each election with our partners at Legal Defense Fund (LDF) to provide election protection, we see and hear about the problems voters with disabilities face in Louisiana,” said Ashley Shelton, CEO of PCEJ. “This is a chance for us to work in collaboration, address issues, and positively improve voting through policy recommendations.” The task force group, which started...

For Immediate Release: January 10, 2023 NEW ORLEANS, LA— Tomorrow, January 11, 2023, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) will work with a group of partners to host an expungement event that will be located at 4035 Washington Avenue, Suite 203, in New Orleans, LA. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and is aimed at expunging records for moderate to low-income New Orleans residents. The Center for Racial Justice at Dillard University and PCEJ donated more than $10,400 to cover the costs of expungement filing fees for Orleans parish residents with an Orleans conviction and financial need. “In Louisiana an arrest automatically creates a criminal record, even if there isn’t a charge placed against the person. People rely on expungements, but they can be pricey. That $550 price tag can be the difference between someone being able to land a job, get into school, or obtain housing for their...

For Immediate Release:  December 10, 2022 NEW ORLEANS, LA— Today, December 10, 2022, is runoff election day and polling locations across the state will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Throughout the day, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) will be providing rides to the polls, voter protection services, and other information and support to people across Louisiana. Everyone will have something on the ballot, including three important constitutional amendments and some local positions.  “Every election is important, and each year the stakes are raised. We’ve been working with partners to educate voters about what the Public Service Commissioner does and how this position impacts national climate goals, but also public utilities that are needed in the day-to-day life of everyone. Someone who holds that much power should be accountable to the people they serve. In order for everyone to vote with confidence, voters need to...

New Orleans, Louisiana | November 28, 2022 – The two candidates in the Runoff Race for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 3, incumbent Lambert Boissiere III, and challenger Davante Lewis, will face off in a televised debate airing on WLAE-TV on Wednesday, November 30th at 8pm. The debate is being hosted by the Alliance for Affordable Energy, HousingLOUISIANA and Power Coalition for Equity and Justice.  Norman Robinson will serve as moderator.   The Louisiana Public Service Commission regulates public utilities in the state of Louisiana. It is a powerful government body that makes real decisions about your energy bills, significantly impacting the lives of residents in our state every single day.  The election is Saturday, December 10, 2022. The Debate Will Air on WLAE:  Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 8pm  Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 5pm  Monday, December 5, 2022 at 11pm  Media interested in covering the debate should contact Amy Barrios at 504-621-5646 or amy@mmsnola.com for...

For Immediate Release Voters across the state of Louisiana will have the opportunity to cast their vote for important elected positions and amendments this November 8th. The 2022 elections in Louisiana are proving to be extremely crucial this year, with some positions and amendments on the ballot that we may not have a chance to vote on for years to come. Polling Locations will be open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.  Power Coalition for Equity and Justice will be providing rides to the polls all day on election day as well as operating from our headquarters in New Orleans, as a base for over 100 volunteers who will be canvassing, phone and text banking, as well as carrying out election protection efforts. We have similar operations occurring in Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Shreveport.  This year we are continuing our deep partnership with the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund,...

For Immediate Release This Election Season the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is providing Faith Leaders across the state of Louisiana with mini-grants to bring Souls to the Polls. This initiative is a part of PCEJ’s statewide Get Out The Vote (GOTV) strategy that has been in place leading up to the general election and the following run-off. As the Power Coalition gears up for a crucial election season with important elected positions and amendments on the ballot, it is more critical than ever that we meet voters where they are. Communities of faith are sources of engagement socially, emotionally, and spiritually for hundreds of thousands of people across Louisiana; we hope to mobilize them civically as well.  As of November 7th, 2022, PCEJ has allocated nearly 20,000 dollars to more than 15 Faith Leaders based in Alexandria, New Orleans, Lake Charles, Shreveport, East and West Baton Rouge, and...

MEDIA ADVISORYOctober 29, 2022 CONTACTKatie Baker, Petkanas Strategiespress@zpstrategies.com Dozens of Storm Survivors, 16 Grassroots Organizations From New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Puerto Rico Gathered to Mark 10-year Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy and 5-year anniversary of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 1-year Anniversary of Hurricane Ida  Release New Roadmap With Recommendations For Congress and Federal Government To Improve Broken Federal Disaster Response System’s Ability To Handle Increased Severity & Frequency Of Storms Due to Climate Change  Recommendations Include Distributing Disaster Recovery Funding Faster, Reforming Flood Insurance Program   The Full Report Can Be Found Here   Photos from the Event Will Be Uploaded Here   PORT MONMOUTH, NJ – Today, a coalition of storm survivors, fifteen advocacy organizations and lawmakers from New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Puerto Rico gathered to commemorate the anniversaries of major storms in their states and release a new report detailing policy recommendations addressing how the federal national disaster response systems leave communities...

For Immediate Release Shreveport, LA– Today, October 21, 2022, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), along with partners will celebrate the commencement of a second early voting location in Caddo Parish at the Shreve Memorial Library- Hamilton/South Caddo Branch. This significant moment and location will be marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.  “This moment is a huge win for those in the community of Caddo,” said Ashley Shelton, CEO of PCEJ. “Since 2016, the people have been demanding a second early voting location. Early voting is one way people can show up and have their voices heard. It gives voters juggling responsibilities options on when and how they can make time to still get to the polls. In this day and age flexibility makes a difference in how people participate.”  In 2021, PCEJ along with a group of partner organizations drafted a letter to the Caddo...

For Immediate Release Baton Rouge, LA–  On Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 10  a.m. (CST) Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) will take action at the Louisiana State Capitol in solidarity with the plaintiffs of the Alabama redistricting case, Merrill v. Milligan.  PCEJ, a plaintiff in the Robinson v. Ardoin case, will bring buses of people from across the state of Louisiana to learn more about the redistricting happenings that lead up to the case filing and speak to the importance of upholding the Voting Rights act of 1965 and ensuring Black and brown voices are heard and accurately represented. Activists and organizers will speak to the press about the work that has been done and continues to be needed in Louisiana to ensure Black and brown communities have their needs met.  “Our case, Robinson v. Ardoin, is slated to be heard in the Spring 2023, but we’re taking...

For Immediate Release New Orleans, LA–  Yesterday,  Monday, September 26, 2022, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) started an on the ground canvassing initiative in major cities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Lake Charles. The campaign is part of a statewide Get Out and Vote (GOTV) strategy currently underway ahead of the November 8, 2022 Primary Congressional election. In the beginning of September, PCEJ onboarded over 100 phone bankers and canvassers statewide to help register voters and educate about key ballot initiatives.  “Across the state there is a lot of voter potential,” said Ashley Shelton, CEO of PCEJ. “We have voters that are either unregistered or not active in every election. Each election matters and every voice matters. Our goal is to continue to engage and activate voters across the state to use their voice so that the true power of Black and brown voters...

For Immediate Release Shreveport, LA– The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) is gearing up for the November 8, 2022 Primary Congressional election with a number of events aimed at engaging and registering voters throughout north Louisiana. In 2019, Black voters in Caddo Parish used only 35% of Black voter potential. PCEJ’s data shows while there are over 100,000 registered Black voters in Caddo Parish, only 35,000 turned out to vote. A series of things impacted voter turnout during 2019, including rising rates of COVID. With more of the population vaccinated and lower rates of COVID cases, Power Coalition plans to continue tackling voter engagement in Black and brown communities through in-person candidate forums, listening sessions, and voter registration opportunities.  “Every election gains more importance as we work to move Shreveport forward. In this election, citizens of Louisiana have the opportunity to amend the Louisiana Constitution and say that...

For Immediate Release: Saturday, July 19, 2022 Baton Rouge, LA–  CEO and founder of Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), Ashley Shelton, released the following statement with the amicus brief filing in support of the plaintiffs in the Robinson v. Ardoin case: “Paul Weiss and Southern Coalition for Social Justice submitted an amicus brief on behalf of Power Coalition and the individuals and organizations who serve as plaintiffs in the case, Robinson v. Ardoin. The goal of the brief was to fully explain and break down the ongoing necessity of the Voting Rights Act. We have an opportunity now to fight and ensure we preserve voting rights for everyone and continue to build a multiracial democracy that meets the needs of all American people, but particularly Black Louisianans, who have not had a true voice for too long. The history Louisiana has with suppressing Black voting power continues to...

For Immediate Release: Saturday, June 18, 2022 Baton Rouge, LA–  Yesterday, June 17, 2022, a decision from the 19th Judicial District Court determined the previously ratified nine member plan, SB 22, voted on by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board (EBRPSB) during the Redistricting Special Meeting to be in violation of Louisiana law. Based on a ruling made by the State District Judge Tarvald Smith, the EBRPSB and the Secretary of State are prohibited from using SB 22 in the upcoming fall elections. The EBRPSB must now choose to use the Ware-Collins 1-11 plan that would expand the number of districts and add a majority-minority district, or meet to submit another plan in accordance with Louisiana law and the Federal Voting Rights Act.  The EBRPSB has until June 22, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. to decide a plan of action either way.  This is a celebrated win for the Power...

***PRESS STATEMENT*** For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Baton Rouge, LA–  CEO and founder of Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), Ashley Shelton, released the following statement ahead of the Redistricting Special Session scheduled Today, June 15, 2022: “This moment is an important one for the people of Louisiana. They have been standing up and speaking throughout this process. They ensured representation in the 2020 Census. There was unprecedented participation in the 2021 redistricting process from communities throughout the state. They gave endless testimony at the redistricting roadshows and the redistricting special session. The fight for fair representation in Louisiana has been a journey, but the people have used their voice clearly to demand change. I urge the legislators to do what is right for the people. We know transformational change is a marathon, not a sprint. The people have been patient. The Chief U.S. District Judge Shelly...

Federal Court Rules in Favor of Plaintiffs to Block Enacted Congressional Map  For Immediate Release: June 6, 2022 Baton Rouge, LA–  On Monday, June 6, 2022, a decision was made in favor of Black voters to block Louisiana’s enacted congressional map in Robinson v. Ardoin, the case challenging Louisiana’s congressional map in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a result of the ruling made by Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick of the Middle District of Louisiana, a new map with two majority-minority districts will need to be drawn for the upcoming elections.   The plaintiffs, Black Louisiana voters, and Louisiana nonprofit organizations that promote civic engagement and social equity, including Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Louisiana State Conference, Press Robinson, Edgar Cage, Dorothy Nairne, Edwin Rene Soule, Alice Washinton, Clee Ernest Lowe, Davante Lewis,...

For Immediate Release: June 2, 2022 Baton Rouge, LA– June 2, 2022, About a dozen or more educators, lawmakers, and activists will meet at the East Baton Rouge (EBR) Parish School Board Office (1050 S Foster Drive) at 4:30 p.m. to hold a press conference before the EBR School Board Meeting at 5 p.m. where the school board will discuss the budget as it relates to teacher cuts and the Comprehensive Staffing Model. People from the community of East Baton Rouge parish have been calling on the local school board to address and rectify the chaos caused by the implementation of the Comprehensive Staffing Model. The school board will also discuss the Pathways to Bright Futures program which will start in Fall 2022. Community members also intend to use this as an opportunity to address this major decision that comes with dire consequences should parents not opt their child out...

For Immediate Release: Monday, May 13, 2022 BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, a five-day evidentiary hearing for a preliminary injunction came to a close in Robinson v. Ardoin, the case challenging Louisiana’s congressional map as a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. At the hearing, civil rights groups presented their case for enjoining the discriminatory map which severely dilutes Black voting power. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick of the Middle District of Louisiana will determine whether to block Louisiana’s enacted congressional map from being used in upcoming elections while litigation continues, which would require a new map be drawn that includes two majority-Black districts. On March 30, 2022, the Legal Defense Fund, Inc. (LDF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Louisiana, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Louisiana Lawyers John Adcock and Tracie Washington filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Louisiana State Conference...

***MEDIA ADVISORY*** For Immediate Release: Monday, May 9, 2022 WHAT: An evidentiary hearing for a preliminary injunction is set to begin in Robinson v. Ardoin, the case challenging Louisiana’s Congressional map as a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. At the hearing, civil rights groups will present their case for enjoining the discriminatory map which severely dilutes Black voting power. On March 30, 2022, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Louisiana, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Louisiana Lawyers John Adcock and Tracie Washington filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, and nine individual voters. The lawsuit was filed immediately after the Louisiana legislature voted on March 30, 2022 to overturn Governor John Bel Edwards’ veto of the Congressional plan passed...

Baton Rouge, LA– On Thursday, April 21, 2022, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) will host a Lobby Day and Press Conference at the Louisiana State Capitol. The event will start at 9 a.m. on the steps of the capitol as an opportunity for the community to come out to hold elected officials accountable to their respective communities and learn more about the power PCEJ is building through legislator engagement.  “The Power Coalition and our partners work in communities everyday hearing the challenges they are facing and work with them to exercise their power through democracy,” Janea Jamison, Director of Programs for PCEJ said. “This is the time for supporters and advocates to establish and strengthen relationships with policymakers.” At 12:00 p.m. (CST) PCEJ will host a Press Conference led by PCEJ with words from partner organizations that stand for the people and push for change in carceral justice,...

New Orleans, LA– On Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. (CST), Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) in partnership with Bike-N-Vote and Level Up Campaign will host an Early Voting Community Event at Ashe Cultural Arts Center at 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70113. In alignment with all of the organization’s missions, the event will be centered around civic engagement for younger generations like Generation Z. Speakers at the event will include local activists: Carlos Pollard Jr., Morgan Walker, and Eyshana Webster. The event will be free and open to the public. As a Get Out and Vote event, community members will be able to register to vote and learn more about what’s on the ballot for New Orleans, particularly the Early Childhood millage proposition. In addition, community members will be able to enjoy festive family-friendly activities like egg dying, Easter Bunny photos, Easter Egg...

Baton Rouge, LA– On April 7, 2022, the East Baton Rouge (EBR) School Board met at the School Board Office for a Redistricting Special Meeting to approve a final plan that will be ratified on May 5, 2022 and to go into effect with the November 8, 2022 School Board elections. With the redistricting vote up first on the agenda for the special meeting, things quickly deteriorated as white EBR School Board members ignored recommendations from their own hand-picked demographer and chose to approve a plan that diminishes minority representation.  The redistricting meeting, which was rescheduled due to weather, was well attended by education advocates, stakeholders, and independent redistricting experts who spent months providing input in support of a map proposed by board members Evelyn Ware-Jackson and Dawn Collins. The Ware-Jackson Collins plan would expand the number of districts and add a majority minority district. In a vote five to...

March 30, 2022 – Today, the Louisiana legislature voted to overturn Governor John Bel Edwards’ veto of the Congressional map passed earlier this year, which failed to add a second majority-Black district. In response, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Louisiana, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP filed a  lawsuit on behalf of the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, and individuals Press Robinson, Dorothy Nairne, E. René Soulé, Alice Washington, and Clee Ernest Lowe challenging the map as a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Section 2.   “The Congressional map passed by the Louisiana legislature in February rejected basic principles of fairness and equity,” said NAACP Louisiana State Conference President Michael McClanahan. “The legislature knew that they could pass a map that complied with the Voting Rights Act and honored...

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2022  New Orleans, LA– On Monday, March 21, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. (CST), Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) will host a Press Conference Webinar releasing the 2021 Annual Report: Power Building Activate. The conference will open with comments from PCEJ founder and CEO, Ashley Shelton. PCEJ partners will discuss highlights from the year-in-review. The panel will include Jared Evans (NAACP LDF), Norris Henderson (VOTE), Susana Raquel Berger (Made to Save), and Roishetta Ozane (The Vessel Project).  In 2021, PCEJ made over 3.6 million contacts to people around the state through phone calls, text messages, door-to-door canvassing, and social media content. This outreach supported a full slate of community outreach programs.  PCEJ, along with executive partners, engaged in the three legislative sessions advocating for democracy, expanding legislation and policies centered in equity and supporting communities of color. PCEJ educated the community on multiple democracy...

For Immediate Release: March 15, 2022  Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Louisiana, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP filed a federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s congressional map. Filed on behalf of the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, and individuals Dorothy Nairne, E. René Soulé, Alice Washington, and Clee Ernest Lowe, the lawsuit alleges that Governor John Bel Edwards’ veto of the congressional redistricting plan passed by the Louisiana State Legislature leaves in place a decade old map that, because of shifts in the state’s population, now violates the United State Constitution. The governor vetoed the plan passed by the legislature because it violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) and dilutes the votes of Black Louisianans. During the redistricting session, the groups submitted several maps for...

For Immediate Release: March 11, 2022  Baton Rouge, LA– Wednesday evening, Governor John Bel Edwards announced the decision to veto the congressional redistricting map drawn by the Louisiana Legislature. Gov. Edwards stated the map did not add a second majority-minority district and did not meet federal law compliance requirements.  “I thank Governor Edwards for listening and taking a stand with the thousands of Louisianians that came out and participated in the entire redistricting process,” says Ashley Shelton, CEO of Power Coalition for Equity and Justice. “Countless voters engaged around redistricting, sharing extensive testimony on the importance of fair and equitable representation and the need for an additional majority-minority district given that 33 percent of the state’s population is Black. You [the people] helped us see this moment, and while it is a moment to celebrate we also know the fight is not over yet.” Power Coalition for Equity and Justice...

For Immediate Release: December 14, 2021  Lake Charles, LA– On Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at the Tritico Theater at McNeese State University, legislators will continue the Redistricting Roadshow at 5:30 P.M. CST. This is the final stop on the roadshow in 2021. This is an opportunity for legislators to hear comments and testimony from the public about the redistricting process.   Political Redistricting happens every 10 years after the census and is an opportunity to draw new political district boundaries based on population changes. The goal of redistricting is to create equitable and competitive political districts. Historically, Louisiana communities of color have had little say in the way their communities are mapped or represented. Despite the state being over ⅓ people of color, only 1 of 6 Congressional districts are represented by a person of color.  Community members can attend the Redistricting Roadshow to learn more about the redistricting process, testify...

Power Coalition Makes Redistricting Grants to Encourage Equitable Redistricting Process For Immediate Release: December 6, 2021  New Orleans, LA– Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is providing mini-grants to support small nonprofit organizations, churches, social clubs, and neighborhood groups across the state organizing their communities around the redistricting process. The grants support hosting community listening sessions, town halls, text and phone banks, and mobilizing communities for a fair and just redistricting process. “Redistricting has been a north star for our equity work,” says Power Coalition Founder and CEO Ashley Shelton. “When people live in fair and equitable political districts they are more likely to be able to elect candidates of choice and make sure that their voices are heard and their needs are reflected.” Despite having a population that is over 31% Black and increasing populations of color across the state, the majority of Louisiana’s elected officials are white. Louisiana...

For Immediate Release: November 12, 2021  Voters across the state can cast their ballot for Constitutional Amendments and local races on Saturday, November 13 from 7:00am-8:00pm.  Baton Rouge, LA– Every voter in the state has the opportunity to cast their vote during the election on Saturday, November 13. The ballot has 4 statewide Constitutional Amendments and many parishes and towns have local races on the ballot, including the New Orleans City Council and Mayor.  Polling locations will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm. Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, a civic engagement organization, is encouraging voters affected by Hurricane Ida to check their polling location ahead of time because many have been moved, they say.  Power Coalition will be providing rides to the polls on election day. Voters who need a ride can call: (504) 612- 1513 or sign up at pcej.org/PowerRides.  “It is important to vote in every election,”...

For Immediate Release: November 9, 2021  Alexandria, LA– On Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at the LSU Alexandria Ballroom, legislators will continue the Redistricting Roadshow at 5:30 P.M. CST. This is the 4th stop on the roadshow where legislators hear comments and testimony from the public about the redistricting process.   Political Redistricting happens every 10 years after the census and is an opportunity to draw new political district boundaries based on population changes. The goal of redistricting is to create equitable and competitive political districts. Historically, Louisiana communities of color have had little say in the way their communities are mapped or represented.  Community members can attend the Redistricting Roadshow to learn more about the redistricting process and can testify about communities of interest and how they would like to see political districts drawn in their area.  “The Redistricting Roadshow is an opportunity for individuals and communities to engage their legislators...

For Immediate Release: September 8, 2021  Baton Rouge, LA– On September 8, ten days after Hurricane Ida made landfall, Governor John Bel Edwards approved Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s emergency election plan, pushing the fall elections back by a month. The primary election will now be Saturday, November 13 and the runoff election will take place on Saturday, December 11.  “We want to thank the Governor and Secretary of State for making this decision,” says Ashley Shelton, CEO of Power Coalition for Equity and Justice. “Recovery from this devastating storm needs to be the priority of our communities right now. By delaying the election we can ensure that more people will be able to participate in democracy.” The Secretary of State’s office cited damage to polling locations, displaced election workers, and that the storm affected 42% of the state’s voters as drivers of this decision.  “There are 4 statewide Constitutional...

For Immediate Release: September 7, 2021  New Orleans, LA– Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is on the front lines of Hurricane Ida response, amplifying the work of community partners and organizers. In times of crisis, directly impacted people know what they need and Hurricane Ida is no different. Throughout Southeast Louisiana we have seen an outpouring of support from neighbors, faith leaders, community organizers, and community members who know how to respond to each other’s needs. To aid in these efforts, Power Coalition regranted over $150,000 to grassroots organizers and mutual aid groups on the ground in the first week of hurricane recovery. “We are proud of our ability to regrant dollars to the community and know that there is a grassroots infrastructure that has been built so that we are responsive to community needs immediately,” says Ashley Shelton, Founder and CEO of Power Coalition. “We are steeped in...

For Immediate Release: July 19, 2021  Shreveport, LA –Louisiana’s vaccination is still lagging behind other states in the nation. Despite a slow start, people continue to get vaccinated due to increased understanding of the vaccine in communities, increased access to the vaccine, and now a shot at a million dollars.  Power Coalition, the Louisiana Department of Health, and other partners have been knocking on doors, texting our communities, and calling people across Louisiana since April to get people vaccinated. The Bring Back Louisiana campaign is ensuring that people know that they are eligible for the vaccine, where they can get it, and answer any questions about the vaccine.  “There is still hesitancy in the community about vaccines but we have found that having conversations with people, listening to their concerns, and building trust are ways that we are breaking through and getting more people vaccinated,” says Power Coalition for Equity...

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2021  New Orleans, LA–Since April 2021, Power Coalition has been a part of the Bring Back Louisiana campaign to get more Louisiana residents vaccinated. Baton Rouge, LA–Yesterday, voting rights advocates joined Governor Edwards to sign two new democracy expanding laws into effect.  Act 365 extends early voting for Presidential elections in Louisiana, increasing the early voting period from 7 days to 11 days. Across the country, the average length of early voting periods is 19 days with some states having as many as 45 days.  Act 22  increases the amount of time that voters have in the voting booth from 3 minutes to 6 minutes. After 3 minutes, voters could be asked to leave the voting booth regardless of whether they had completed the ballot, putting some populations, such as elderly people, people who speak English as a second language, or those with learning disabilities...

For Immediate Release: July 12, 2021  New Orleans, LA–Since April 2021, Power Coalition has been a part of the Bring Back Louisiana campaign to get more Louisiana residents vaccinated. The Louisiana vaccination rate is one of the lowest in the nation at just over 35%. We lag behind other states in vaccination rates for a number of reasons but Power Coalition and our partners remain dedicated to doing everything that we can to meet community members where they are.  Power Coalition has over 50 canvassers working throughout the state. These are experienced canvassers with deep roots in the communities they are contacting. They have worked during election seasons and are from the areas that they work in, a key in elections and an important component of convincing vaccine hesitant populations to get the vaccine.  “People are more likely to feel comfortable getting vaccinated if they trust the people giving them...

Power Coalition and SCSJ Train 3 Redistricting Fellows  Power Coalition and Southern Coalition for Social Justice train three redistricting fellows with the goal of engaging and educating communities around Louisiana about equitable redistricting.  New Orleans, LA– As the nation gears up for political redistricting, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, in partnership with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, is excited to host 3 Redistricting Fellows in Louisiana. These fellows will work across the state to educate communities, institutions, and legislators on the principles of political redistricting.  Political Redistricting happens every 10 years after the census and is an opportunity to draw new political district boundaries based on population changes. The goal of redistricting is to create equitable and competitive political districts so that people can be represented by legislators who will advocate on behalf of the community’s best interests.  Political gerrymandering is when areas draw political districts that favor...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 18 Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and YWCA Greater Baton Rouge pay bail for people awaiting trial in the East Baton Rouge jail in celebration of Juneteenth.  Baton Rouge, LA– Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and the YWCA Greater Baton Rouge are partnering for the annual Juneteenth Freedom Bailout. Juneteenth, also referred to as Freedom or Liberation Day, is a celebration of the emancipation from slavery in 1865. On the national day of freedom, Power Coalition and YWCA are dedicated to posting bail for people currently in East Baton Rouge jail who can not afford their bail and are not yet convicted of a crime.  The practice of bail is rooted in injustice. Low income people are forced to sit in jail before ever even being convicted of a crime while people with more financial means are able to post bail.  In 2021,...

For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 17 Power Coalition and partners across Louisiana are hosting events and engaging in work in celebration of Juneteenth.  Power Coalition and YWCA Greater Baton Rouge will be hosting their second annual Juneteenth Bailout on Sunday, June 20 at the Eastern Baton Rouge Jail. They will be posting bail for people currently being held awaiting trial.  Join Imagination Leads, City of Baton Rouge- Mayor President Sharon Weston Broome, Manship Theatre, and Power Coalition as we celebrate Juneteenth with a Conversation & Evening with Tiffany Cross host of The Cross Connection. The event will be at the Manship Theater at Shaw Center for the Arts, on Friday, June 18 at 7pm with virtual and in person options available. Find out more and reserve tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-speaker-series-featuring-tiffany-cross-tickets-154047934519f June 18th, 2021 is the first day of the Freedom Ride for Voting Rights Bus Tour that will launch in none...

For Immediate Release: June 16 Power Coalition and partners help to pass democracy expanding bills in Louisiana.  Baton Rouge, LA– While states across the country pass voter suppression bills and limit access to the ballot box, Louisiana passed 3 important democracy expanding pieces of legislation this session. Louisiana had one of the most stringent voting booth time limits in the nation. Voters were only allowed to be in the voting booth for 3 minutes, after which they could be asked to leave regardless of whether they completed the ballot. This rule was disproportionately used to ask people of color to leave the booth, and hurt elderly populations, people who speak english as a second language, and those who despite being able to cast a vote independently may need additional time. Voters in Louisiana will now have 6 minutes to cast their ballots, doubling the amount of time so that they...

For immediate release– June 9, 2021 Prominent Southern University Alumni Release New Book: The HBCU Experience: Southern University System Edition Baton Rouge, LA– A new best selling book: The HBCU Experience: Southern University System Edition, features stories from prominent Southern University Alumni who are doing amazing things in their careers, businesses, and communities nationally and internationally. Visionary Author Dr. Ashley Little engaged Janea Jamison, Director of Programs for Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, as the lead author of this collection of stories. “I am extremely grateful to be the lead author on this project. Southern University laid the foundation and helped me grow into my career, formed long lasting friendships and relationships” said lead author, Janea Jamison,  “It is extremely important that we are able to capture the stories of alumni throughout the world.” For far too long, there has been a pervasive false narrative about attending HBCUs. Despite...

House Bill 286 to Extend Early Voting Passes Senate and Headed to Governor’s Desk Baton Rouge, LA– HB 286 to extend early voting for presidential elections passed the Louisiana Senate unanimously and is now headed to the Governor’s desk. The bill, sponsored by Representative Fred Jones out of Monroe, extends in-person early voting for presidential elections. Under this new law, early voting for presidential elections will take place over 11 days instead of the previous 7. “This is a big achievement for a state in the deep south” said Power Coalition Founder and CEO, Ashley Shelton. “We know that providing more opportunities to vote increases turnout, makes lines shorter, and expands democracy.”  In 2020, Power Coalition filed a federal lawsuit to extend early voting and increase vote by mail options in a COVID reality. These increased options were widely used and demonstrated the need for increased voting options in Louisiana;...

For immediate release– May 19, 2021 House Bill 285 to Increase Time in Voting Booth Unanimously Passes Senate and Headed to Governor’s Desk Baton Rouge, LA– HB 285 to increase the amount of time one has in the voting booth passed the Senate unanimously yesterday, clearing the path for the Governor’s desk. The bill, sponsored by Representative Ted James out of Baton Rouge, increases the time limit that people can spend in the voting booth from three minutes to six minutes for all elections.  Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, the organization that encouraged this bill and engaged community members to support the bill, says this bill is based on an issue that arose again in the 2020 election, with people being asked to leave the voting booth after 3 minutes even if they did not have time to complete their ballot. In 2020, with a ballot that included 7...

For immediate release- April 27, 2021 Power Coalition and Partners Hosting COVID-19 Vaccination Events to “Bring Back Louisiana” New Orleans, LA– Power Coalition has joined forces with the Department of Health, Louisiana Public Health Institute, and other partners to vaccinate our communities.  The Power Coalition has deep roots in communities across the state and is a trusted voice to increase vacations in the communities we serve. The COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective at reducing COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations, dramatically reducing the risk of the virus for vaccinated people. At the moment, over 1.2 million people in Louisiana have completed the vaccination series. Though a good start, vaccine access has been limited in low income and majority Black neighborhoods. To combat this and ensure that everyone has equal access to vaccinations and protection from COVID-19, Power Coalition is using their stateside network of volunteers and...

For immediate release- April 23, 2021 Power Coalition joins forces with the Department of Health and LPHI to “Bring Back Louisiana” Baton Rouge, LA– Power Coalition has joined forces with the Department of Health, Louisiana Public Health Institute, and other partners to run a GOTV campaign with a twist- this time reaching neighborhoods to Get Out The Vaccine.  The Power Coalition has deep roots in communities across the state and is a trusted voice to increase vacations in the communities we serve. The COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective at reducing COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations, dramatically reducing the risk of the virus for vaccinated people. At the moment, over 1.15 million people in Louisiana have completed the vaccination series. Though a good start, vaccine access has been limited in low income and majority Black neighborhoods. To combat this and ensure that everyone has equal access...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– April 23, 2021 “Time” Oscar Watch Party and Celebration New Orleans, LA– Criminal Justice reform advocates will be hosting an Oscar Watch Party and Celebration for the Oscar nominated documentary “Time”. This documentary, filmed over 2 decades, shares the story of matriarch Fox Rich as she fights for her husband Robert’s release from Angola while raising their six sons.  VOTE Nola, Friends and Families of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children, Promise of Justice Institute, Power Coalition, and Participatory Defense Movement NOLA will be hosting an event to celebrate this film’s Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. The film’s director, Garet Bradley won the U.S. documentary directing award for “Time” at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, becoming the first Black woman to do so.   This film shares the story and experiences of families that is not often shared when discussing mass incarceration. Weaving together home videos, interviews, and footage from...

**PRESS RELEASE** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- April 20, 2021 Political Redistricting Shapes Local and Federal Elections New Orleans, LA– On March 20, Louisiana had special elections for 2 Congressional House seats. Congressional Districts 2 and 5 turned out to vote, some people for the 3rd time since the November election. Power Coalition and partners activated our command center that includes an election protection hotline, monitoring social media, and engaging lawyers and advocates to engage in rapid response to any concerns at polling locations to ensure fair elections. We received numerous calls and saw reports from voters who could not cast their ballot because their polling place was closed.  One twitter tweeted that voter suppression was happening in Louisiana. She was right, there is a version of voter suppression happening in Louisiana, and it’s deeper than people imagined. The political districts in Louisiana are drawn to suppress the voices of people of...

**PRESS RELEASE** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- March 24, 2021 Marijuana Decriminalization Bill passes in Shreveport SHREVEPORT, LA On Tuesday, March 23rd, the Shreveport City Council voted 5-2 in favor of an ordinance which would decriminalize possession of less than 14 grams (half an ounce) of marijuana for residents 18 years of age or older. The proposal came about as a result of collaboration between the City of Shreveport with bipartisan support from Shreveport City council members Tabatha Taylor and John Nickelson. On Monday, March 22nd the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice hosted a townhall about the ordinance with the two councilmembers. Many of the questions from audience members were centered around what other entities were aware of the proposed ordinance and how it would affect existing laws. Councilman John Nickelson, who is also an attorney, discussed the racial disparities which exist in sentencing and conviction regarding marijuana possession and how...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-February 10, 2021 Power Coalition and Partners Host Congressional House District 2 Candidate Forum To help the public prepare for the March 20 special elections, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and our partners will be hosting virtual candidate forums. The Congressional House District 2 Candidate Forum will take place virtually tomorrow, Thursday, February 11, at 6:30 p.m.  NEW ORLEANS, LA | February 10, 2021—On Thursday, February 11, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) and partners will host the Congressional House District 2 candidate forum. Starting at 6:30 p.m., this virtual event will feature 11 candidates. This forum, moderated by Vice President of Rise St. James Stephanie Cooper, will feature questions centered on environmental justice, public health, criminal justice reform, and more. “With these forums, we want to educate voters about the people who are running to represent them in their communities,” said PCEJ Community...

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, 2020—This Saturday, December 5 during the runoff election in Louisiana, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and our partners will be giving out care boxes with food, masks, hygiene products, and voter education materials.  From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ),  Beacon of Light of Baton Rouge, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, and Elm Grove Baptist Church will be handing out these care boxes for free to anyone in the community who needs these resources. “Throughout this election season, we have been working with...

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 Cantrell and the City Council prioritize people over profits and police.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | November 16, 2020—Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 17, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) and our friends at the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance (GNOHA) and the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition (OPPRC) are teaming up with the folks at Ashè Cultural Arts Center to host an arts advocacy event about the New Orleans city budget. In particular, we intend to focus on the fact that our city is currently...

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 polls, and more important election information, and call 866-OUR-VOTE if they experience problems voting.    NEW ORLEANS, LA | November 2, 2020—Nearly 1 million Louisianans have already cast their ballots this election season, and another 1 million-plus are expected to vote on Election Day, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3, when polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. “The Power Coalition and our partners have already made more than 1.2 million voter contacts over the past couple of months, where we’ve talked to folks about how important it is for...

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 registering at 18, and she intends to vote in the November election in her home state of Louisiana....

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 & Educational Fund, and Anti-Defamation League South Central Region.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | October 30, 2020—Hurricane Zeta blew through Southeast Louisiana on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage and knocking power out for millions of people in the region, many of whom haven’t had their power restored yet. That devastation also came at an inopportune time in terms of voting, as Election Day, and the deadline for requesting and returning absentee ballots, is nearly upon us. With that in mind, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) joined the NAACP Legal...

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 where relief efforts could make the greatest impact.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | October 28, 2020—Tomorrow, Thursday, October 29, at 3:30 p.m., Ashley Shelton, Executive Director of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), will join moderator Jan Moller, Executive Director of the Louisiana Budget Project, and panelists Davante Lewis, Director of Public Affairs and Outreach at the Louisiana Budget Project, and Erika Zucker, Policy Advocate at the Workplace Justice Project at Loyola Law Clinic in a webinar to discuss a new report from Measure of America, “A Portrait of...

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, Saturday, Oct. 24.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | October 23, 2020—Tomorrow, Saturday, October 24, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), Black Voters Matter, Ride New Orleans, Rides to the Polls, the Bossier NAACP, and various partner organizations will be hosting 10 events to celebrate Early Voting Day and help boost voter turnout across Louisiana. Louisiana voters have already set a new record for early voting turnout, with approximately 573,000 votes cast between in-person early voting and voting by mail combined. The Power Coalition and...

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 | October 17, 2020—With early voting underway, we’re seeing long lines to vote at polling locations across the state. But it seems to be especially problematic on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, where voters have had to wait in line for hours on both of the first two days of early voting. Voters who’ve gone to the Charles Odom Building, at 5001 West Bank Expressway, have had to wait in line for up to six hours to cast their ballots. It’s worth noting that the West Bank is one...

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 is treated like Election Day. NEW ORLEANS, LA | October 16, 2020—In the wake of our victory in the Harding v. Edwards case, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) and our partners–including Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), and the NAACP–are celebrating the three additional days of early voting (10 days total) with a series of live and online events across Louisiana. From today through October 27, we’ll be treating each day of early voting like it’s Election Day in order to boost voter turnout in Louisiana to historic...

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 on steps of the Louisiana Capitol at 9:30 a.m. to support three bills that will be heard in the House Labor & Industrial Relations Committee at 11:00 a.m.   BATON ROUGE, LA | October 11, 2020—On Monday, October 12, at 9:30 a.m., employed and unemployed workers will be joined by the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), Step Up Louisiana, the Louisiana Budget Project, UNITE HERE Local 23, Southeast Louisiana Building and Construction Trades Council, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) of Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, LiUNA Local...

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 16, Judge Shelly Dick of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana issued a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in the Harding v. Edwards case.  The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) was one of the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which challenged Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin over the Emergency Election Plan he submitted for the November and December elections. The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Covington Law Firm represented us, along with three individual plaintiffs and the Louisiana...

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 week promoting the importance of completing the 2020 Census, hosting a series of redistricting academies, and teaming up with partners to educate and engage voters and get them ready to turn out this fall.  NEW ORLEANS, LA | September 14, 2020—Last week, as our team at the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) was tracking the hearings on our lawsuit (Harding v. Edwards) over Louisiana’s election plans for this fall, we were also fighting to engage and educate Louisianans on several other important issues. Meanwhile, Judge Shelly Dick’s decision...

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 same hours.  NEW ORLEANS, LA | September 4, 2020—Two days of court hearings on the Power Coalition’s lawsuit (officially known as Harding v. Edwards) over Louisiana’s emergency election rules (or lack thereof) for this fall are set for this coming Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 and 9, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day, in front of Judge Shelly Dick in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. The plaintiffs will present their case on Tuesday, followed by the defendants on Wednesday. If you would...

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 the impacted region.  NEW ORLEANS, LA | September 3, 2020—As Louisianans cry out for help, their pleas seem to be falling on deaf ears. Despite Hurricane Laura making landfall just one week ago, where it upended hundreds of thousands of lives and caused billions of dollars of damage across the state, the story appears to have largely been pushed from the national news cycle.  Much of Southwest Louisiana has been rendered uninhabitable, without electricity or running water. Parts of Central and Northern Louisiana were also devastated, and are likely weeks...

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 November and December.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | August 25, 2020—Tomorrow, at a scheduled 1:30 p.m. hearing in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, which will take place via Skype, Louisiana voters should learn a little bit more about what their elections might look like this fall, as the status of a lawsuit challenging the state’s emergency election plans will receive a status hearing in front of Judge Shelly Dick. The lawsuit was brought by the NAACP LDF on behalf of the Power Coalition for Equity...

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 the issue will likely lead to a decisive court battle.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | August 19, 2020—After waiting until the last minute (Monday, August 17) to publicly unveil his Emergency Election Plan, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin found himself locked in a stalemate with Gov. Edwards and the state legislature.  Yesterday, Gov. Edwards made it clear that he intends to veto the plan, arguing that it doesn’t go far enough to protect public health in the midst of the pandemic. Sec. Ardoin countered by saying that he would not alter...

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, LA | August 5, 2020—On August 3, 2020, the Census Bureau issued a statement saying it “will end field data collection by September 30, 2020,” and that “self-response options will also close [on that date] to permit data processing commencement.” The new deadline is a month sooner than had been previously announced by the bureau. An article in The New York Times about the Bureau’s change of course noted widespread dissatisfaction with the move from experts across the political spectrum, including four former directors of the Census Bureau who served...

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 restrictions on mail-in voting and early voting for the November and December elections.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | August 4, 2020—With a little more than 90 days to go before the November 3 election, and no Emergency Election Plan in place in Louisiana, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, and three individual Louisiana voters all felt like we had no choice but to take legal action. Fortunately, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the law firm Covington and Burling, LLP,...

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 state, and our economy afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. LOUISIANA | July 29, 2020—Right now, over 25 million unemployed workers are able to receive at least $600 a week, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Cassidy, and Senator Kennedy have proposed slashing benefits to $200 per week. That would sever a critical lifeline at a time when coronavirus cases are spiking, businesses continue to face mass closures, and whole industries have been decimated. These proposed cuts will upend the economy and make it impossible for workers to pay their...

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 that plan.   NEW ORLEANS, LA | July 28, 2020—Earlier this morning, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), the NAACP Louisiana State Conference, and 25 other advocacy organizations sent a letter to Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin regarding his preparations for the upcoming November and December elections. “Given the resurgence of COVID in our state, and the likelihood that it will still be in Louisiana through at least the end of 2020, we are concerned that Secretary Ardoin has yet to introduce...

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 people who vote, specifically in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi – the Deep South region that is the focus of the SPLC’s work. The first round of grant recipients includes an array of groups working in meaningful and measurable ways to empower communities of color and ensure equitable access to the ballot box....

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 Dukes–to discuss aid for local governments in the next federal stimulus package. NEW ORLEANS, LA | July 21, 2020—COVID-19 hasn’t just sickened our people, it’s also infected our state and local governments. State and local governments have been forced to expend vital resources responding to the public health crisis, while the tax revenue they rely on has taken a significant hit due to the resulting economic crisis. On Wednesday, July 22, from 5:00-6:00 p.m., the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) and our friends at the Louisiana Budget Project...

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 Primary election that took place in Louisiana this past Saturday, July 11, which also featured several local races on ballots across the state, really began back at the beginning of 2020. Originally scheduled for April 4, the election was delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and led to a political and legal fight that went on for months. The crux of the debates over how to administer the election–both the one that took place this past Saturday and the Runoff that is scheduled for August 15–centered on how (or...

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. ET to mobilize voters in Alabama and Louisiana, and to urge the Senate to pass the HEROES Act to ensure officials across the country have the vital resources for fair, safe, and accessible elections in 2020, especially voters of color. This event is part of Turn Up Tuesdays, a weekly national call to action to ensure people are informed and activated to vote in November....

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 James, on a 98-0 vote. The resolution requests the Louisiana Workforce Commission to promote access to unemployment insurance benefits by improving wait times for filing claims. Louise Francis, a Step Up Louisiana member who is currently unemployed due to the pandemic, spoke in front of the Labor and Industrial Relations committee, when the resolution was heard there, about why it’s needed. “I’ve worked at the Sheraton Hotel for 19 years as a banquet cook,” Francis told the committee. “When Covid hit, they laid me off. I never got my unemployment....

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 heights. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 30, 2020—The pandemic has exacerbated previously existing challenges that we faced as a society. It has also presented us with a brand-new set of challenges. Many individuals and organizations have understandably had trouble adjusting. Fortunately, at the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ–http://powercoalition.org), we have been able to respond to these pressures and even further build out our work. The capacity to do so has largely been dependent on the three new team members we’ve added over the past few months. Kaitlyn Joshua,...

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 layers of depth and history to the current national and international reckoning with racism. At the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ–http://powercoalition.org), we made the most of that inspired timing by celebrating liberation with a week of digital events, outdoor actions, and policy advocacy. “Our week of Juneteenth actions and engagements showed the full scope of the work we do and the deep partnerships we have across the state,” said Morgan Shannon, PCEJ director of strategic partnerships. “The Power Coalition’s commitment to equity and justice is shaped by the...

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 join the large majority of U.S. states who either permanently provide “no-excuse” vote-by-mail or who have expanded their program to all voters in response to COVID-19. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 24, 2020—While 33 states already offer “no excuse” vote-by-mail, and several more states have expanded their vote-by-mail program to all voters in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that Louisiana will not join their ranks. On Monday, June 22, a federal judge ruled that two lawsuits brought by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Southern Poverty Law...

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 anywhere in the State Voices national network. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 23, 2020—Dynisha Hugle’s hard work and commitment to community has culminated in her becoming the first Black woman to run a statewide data department among the more than 20 state tables in the State Voice network, after recently being promoted to Data & Targeting Director. Earning her way to this position at just 25 years old speaks to the immense value Dynisha brings to the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ–http://powercoalition.org), and the appreciation and admiration she’s...

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 so today, this weekend, and onward until our dreams are realized. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 19, 2020—It’s been an emotional, uplifting, challenging, and inspiring week so far, as the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ–http://powercoalition.org) and our partners have worked to make this Juneteenth Week a celebrations, a time for healing, and a call to action. Considering the local, statewide, national, and global upheaval around the Black Lives Matter movement, the holiday couldn’t have come at a more apt time. Here’s what we’ve done so far: On Monday,...

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 our Juneteenth Week of Action in solidarity with the New Orleans sanitation workers, known as “Hoppers,” who are currently striking against Metro Services Group. You can learn more about the Hoppers’ story at 6:00 p.m. today, when we will hold space for a listening session with them. Register at: bit.ly/StandWithSanitation. On May 5, more than a dozen sanitation workers–all of whom are Black men–went on strike against their employer, Metro Services Group, to protest a clear pattern of mistreatment on the job. The Hoppers’ demands are simple, reasonable, and fair:...

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, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ–http://powercoalition.org) will be leading a Census Day of Action on Tuesday, June 16, which will culminate with a virtual collegiate kick back event on Zoom featuring DJ Retro. We’ll be following that up with a day of action and learning to support striking sanitation workers in New Orleans. “The Power Coalition is providing more than $100,000 to church groups and grassroots organizations across the state to get the word out about how important Census participation is to the future of our communities,” said...

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 on the call to work toward community healing and to call for action as we continue to fight for a better Louisiana. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 15, 2020—At noon today, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (http://powercoalition.org) will be hosting an Interfaith Healing & Day of Action call, featuring faith and community leaders from across Louisiana. They will talk about how we can heal together during this time of turmoil, and turn that healing into action that moves our communities and our state in a more equitable and...

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 of Texas, Gordon Granger, read the Emancipation Proclamation to enslaved Black folks in the state. The Proclamation had been issued on January 1, 1863, but it wasn’t announced in Texas until more than two years later, making it the last Confederate state to have the Proclamation announced after the end of the Civil War. Every year, African-Americans celebrate these words that were read on June 19,1865, from General Order No. 3 in the Proclamation: “All slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property...

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 centuries. NEW ORLEANS, LA | June 3, 2020—Our hearts remain heavy as we struggle to find the words to express the pain, anger, frustration, and exhaustion we feel following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many more of our brothers and sisters whose deaths weren’t captured on video, but who were murdered due to the color of their skin. “Stories like these are all too familiar to the Black community, and the trauma is real.” according to Ashley Shelton, executive director...

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, which pose serious health risks to voters amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, and four individual voters. “Risking your health, and the health of your family, should not be a requirement to partake in the electoral process,” said Catherine Meza, Senior Counsel at LDF. “We are hoping this lawsuit not only increases access to absentee voting but also makes in-person voting safer, so that Louisianans can exercise their constitutional right without...

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 in deadlines and suspensions for the possible reopening of courts to residential evictions have created incredible uncertainty for renters and landlords. The CARES Act prohibits many landlords from charging late fees, issuing a notice to vacate, or filing for eviction until July 25. Since landlords must provide tenants with a notice to vacate before filing for eviction, and the CARES Act requires the notice to vacate provide at least 30 days, the earliest an eviction proceeding can be filed in accordance with the Act is be August 24. The CARES...

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 this all too well, having lost one of their own, Rep. Reggie Bagala–our prayers go out to his loved ones–and having nearly lost another member in Rep. Edward ‘Ted’ James. Out of concern and respect for their lives, and out of concern and respect for the lives of every Louisianan, more than 20 advocacy organizations have signed onto a letter that we sent to Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder earlier today. In it, we detail several reasons why we object to their timing in reconvening the...

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 her employer hasn’t provided the support she and her colleagues need during this time. NEW ORLEANS, LA | April 28, 2020—This past Sunday, April 26, the New York Times published a moving Op-Ed written by Kenya Slaughter. Ms. Slaughter, who lives in Alexandria, LA, is a frontline worker at a Dollar General there. She followed up her piece in the Times by being featured on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon on Monday evening. “I’m afraid to catch the coronavirus,” Kenya writes in her Op-Ed, titled ‘I Never Planned to Be...

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 shot down by the Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee last Wednesday over unfounded concerns about “voter fraud,” Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin will return to the Committee this morning, at 10:00 a.m., to introduce a new version of that plan. The plan will apply to the upcoming Presidential primary (July 11) and municipal (August 15) elections. In the past week, Sec. Ardoin worked with Gov. Edwards, Attorney General Jeff Landry, and legislative leaders to craft this latest plan. It still includes some version of many of the measures we called...