Impact Fund Statement on the Southern Poverty Law Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, April 21, U.S. Department of Justice officials announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). SPLC is known for its lawsuits against white supremacist groups such as the Klu Klux Klan, as well as its cataloguing of hate groups and extremist organizations.
In response, Impact Fund Executive Director Lindsay Nako issued the following statement:
“Yet again, the Trump administration has weaponized the Justice Department to attack its critics. While the SPLC’s mission to strengthen civil rights and combat racism may be in opposition to the administration’s values, targeting an organization in this way is a blatant abuse of power.
Civil rights ensure that people can be who they are, free from hate and discrimination. They are a crucial piece of our democracy. Targeting the civil rights movement hurts people's ability to live their lives with authenticity. The administration’s attempts to eliminate the organizations that do this work is a step towards their goal of absolute authority.
The Impact Fund stands with the Southern Poverty Law Center, and we urge all Americans to do the same.”