In May of 2016, we dared to dream that we could build an organization to serve social movements on the front lines of change. We came together as lawyers, organizers, creatives, strategists and changemakers with the shared goal of Changing the South, to Change the Nation. A decade later, our team has grown to over 20 people who are using movement lawyering, community organizing, and narrative change to shift policies and practices and create a more just, equitable and free South. Alongside our partners and the community, we've achieved historic, liberatory wins- and we're just getting started. We look forward to working with you, and for you, for decades more of transformative change.
2016 – Historic Voting Rights Wins
Historic Voting Rights Wins
In 2016, Forward Justice brought the federal litigation NC NAACP v NC State board of Elections and succeeded in securing an emergency injunction on the eve of the 2016 election, blocking further illegal purging of voter rolls and reinstating thousands of voters to the rolls. We won this monumental victory alongside 100 year old Grace Bell Hardison. That same year, we represented the NC NAACP at the U.S. Supreme Court in its historic win against racially discriminatory disenfranchisement in NC NAACP v McCrory. The court found that the NC General assembly targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision and imposed cures for problems that did not exist.
2018 – Photo Voter ID
Photo Voter ID
In December of 2018, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of the NC NAACP alleging that North Carolina’s photo voter ID law, SB 824, was passed with discriminatory intent and designed to dilute the voting power of Black and brown voters. We’re still fighting that law to this day. In March of 2026, A Federal Judge ruled to uphold the law, citing drastic changes in the law of Federal Courts as the driving force behind the decision. We’ve filed a notice to appeal the ruling, and will continue our fight to remove discriminatory barriers to our constitutional right to vote.
2020- Protect Our Vote NC
Protect Our Vote NC
In 2020, we mobilized around voter education and access, launching both state based and multi-state voter protection programs. Our state based program, Protect Our Vote NC (POV NC), launched with a voter engagement event in Winston-Salem featuring NBA Star Chris Paul. We provided PPE and helped spread awareness of our free, statewide, nonpartisan voter protection hotlines 888-our-vote. Forward Justice attorneys and advocates staff this hotline, specializing in fielding all complaints of voter intimidation or racial injustice. Our team also staffs 877-880-VOTE, a dedicated “Second Chance Voter” hotline for voters who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system.
In 2020, we also launched our partnership with The Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) to provide voter protection support in key states during general electoral cycles: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.
2021 – NC Copwatch
NC Copwatch
In 2021, we launched NC CopWatch.com as an advocacy tool to provide North Carolina community members with access to law enforcement stop, search and use of force data and serve as a resource for those seeking transparency, accountability, and policy changes in our statewide policing practices.
2023 – Jackson Water Crisis
Jackson Water Crisis
In the summer of 2022, Jackson, MS faced a catastrophic water crisis. During our Grounding the South conference we met Jackson residents who were working tirelessly on the ground to build community solutions while advocating for more state and federal support. Finally, the Biden Administration filed a lawsuit against the City and allocated over $500 million to fix the system.
Since the lawsuit, Forward Justice and its partners have fiercely advocated for its clients in Jackson by preparing and submitting a community statement, filing an Emergency Petition with the EPA, Petitioning for intervenor status to ensure community members have a seat at the litigation table, and fighting for transparency. In 2024, our clients successfully gained intervenor status in the federal lawsuit. Since then, we’ve continued to advocate for our clients in discussions with the EPA, State of Mississippi, and the City of Jackson.
2022 – Grounding the South
Grounding The South Convening
In August of 2022 we joined partners and community members to gather for a powerful convening in Louisiana to build our collective political power. This 3-day long gathering included powerful panels and incorporated mindful moments. View the Grounding the South recap video here
Watch the Grounding the South recap video on Forward Justice Action Network’s Youtube.