NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (NAACP LDF or simply LDF) is a leading United States civil rights organization. It was founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall as part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and spun out as a separate organization in 1957.

Related Topics:
United States - Civil rights - 1940 - Thurgood Marshall - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - 1957

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While primarily focused on the civil rights of African-Americans in the U.S., they claim to have "been instrumental in the formation of similar organizations serving other minority constituencies in the United States," and to have "been involved in the global campaign for human rights by assisting in the creation of public interest legal organizations in South Africa, Canada and Brazil. "

Related Topics:
African-American - South Africa - Canada - Brazil

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Their national office is in New York City with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, California. They claim "nearly two dozen staff lawyers" and "hundreds of cooperating attorneys across the nation." According to their website, they have "more than 100 cases on docket" and have "been involved in more cases before the U.S. Supreme Court than any organization except the U.S. Department of Justice." http://www.naacpldf.org/content.aspx?article=292

Related Topics:
New York City - Washington, D.C. - Los Angeles, California - Lawyer - U.S. Supreme Court - U.S. Department of Justice

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Areas of activity:

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• Litigation
• Advocacy
• Educational outreach
• Policy research and monitoring legislation
• Coalition-building
• Provides scholarships for exceptional African-American students.

Areas of concern:

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• Education
• Civic participation
• Voting rights
• Economic access
• Affirmative action
• Criminal justice
• Opposition to the death penalty
 
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: History ►