Statement from Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights on Indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2026
Contact:
Zindy Marquez
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
zmarquez@clccrul.org
Statement from Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights on Indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center
CHICAGO, IL -- On April 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the investigation and indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center. This investigation is not about accountability or oversight but rather an attempt to control and silence civil rights organizations that work to protect our civil rights and democracy.
For generations, nonprofit organizations have played a critical role in stepping up to fill gaps and provide critical services to communities across the country. Nonprofit organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center have worked for decades to advance racial justice by holding violent extremist groups accountable and safeguarding civil rights. The Trump administration is weaponizing the Department of Justice to single out an advocacy organization for work that they disagree with – this is blatant federal overreach and a threat to our First Amendment rights.
“Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights stands in solidarity with Southern Poverty Law Center. We are seeing a troubling pattern of federal overreach that puts nonprofit organizations at risk simply for doing their jobs,” said Venu Gupta, Executive Director of Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. “At Chicago Lawyers’ Committee, through our democracy defense initiative, we provide legal support for Illinois nonprofits that are affected by federal actions. Nonprofits today are facing increasing legal, political, and financial pressures. If this can happen to one organization, it can happen to any of us in the nonprofit sector. We remain committed to defending the ability for nonprofits to operate freely, advocate boldly for racial justice, and serve their communities without fear of retaliation. A healthy democracy depends on it.”
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