Civil rights organizations are sounding the alarm ahead of a May 20 House Judiciary Committee hearing targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center, warning that the proceeding is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to weaponize the federal government against dissenting voices and nonprofit watchdog groups.
The hearing, scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, comes as more than 400 national, state and local organizations prepare to release a joint sign-on letter condemning the administration’s criminal charges against SPLC and urging Congress to investigate what advocates describe as escalating abuses of executive power targeting civil society organizations.
"This is a coordinated strategy to consolidate power by seeking to eliminate institutions capable of challenging it."
The hearing also comes just days after thousands of voting rights advocates gathered in Montgomery, Ala.—the same city where the SPLC is headquartered—on Saturday, May 16, for the “All Roads Lead to the South” national day of action.
The post Hundreds of Organizations Rally Behind SPLC Ahead of Congressional Hearing: ‘The Civil Rights Community Will Be Watching on May 20’ appeared first on Ms. Magazine.