Equal Justice Society

Equal Justice Society EJS is transforming the nation's consciousness on race through law, social science, and the arts.

The Equal Justice Society is transforming the nation’s consciousness on race through law, social science, and the arts. Led by President Eva Paterson, our legal strategy aims to broaden conceptions of present-day discrimination to include unconscious and structural bias by using social science, structural analysis, and real-life experience.

The Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation and Truth (ARRT) hosted a media event today promoting the Truth and Disclos...
08/25/2026

The Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation and Truth (ARRT) hosted a media event today promoting the Truth and Disclosure Act (AB 2599) at the California State Capitol. The event included staff from the Equal Justice Society, pictured here with event speaker W. Kamau Bell: (from left) LaRita Y. Gibson-Smith, Bell, Mona Tawatao, Tyler Kyser, and Alexandra Santa Ana. EJS board member Donald K. Tamaki also delivered remarks. Learn more at equaljusticesociety.org.

EJS is proud to be part of the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT) - at the California State Cap...
08/25/2026

EJS is proud to be part of the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT) - at the California State Capitol today meeting advocating for the Truth in Disclosure Act, AB 2599.

The Truth in Disclosure Act (AB2599) is a first-of-its-kind legislative bill that would require corporations to search their records and disclose any ties to slavery and human trafficking, including profiting from the buying, selling, or financing of enslaved people.

Repairing the harm requires truth-telling and action and is the responsibility of everyone working together to ensure Black Californians receive healing and repair.



https://alliancefor.org

In yet another disgraceful action, the Supreme Court today allowed the Trump regime to proceed with implementing parts o...
08/25/2026

In yet another disgraceful action, the Supreme Court today allowed the Trump regime to proceed with implementing parts of its executive order to restrict mail-in voting, according to CNN and other media reports.

Earlier this month, the Equal Justice Society joined an amicus brief filed by the Asian Law Caucus and other organizations in the U.S. Supreme Court urging the Court to reject the Trump administration’s request to reinstate Executive Order 14399, which would undermine access to the ballot, potentially disenfranchising tens of millions of American voters, and bring federal interference into state elections administration.

Media reporting indicates that there are other related judicial proceedings related to this issue forthcoming that may prevent immediate widescale implementation of voting restrictions. EJS is monitoring the issue.

EJS’s work extends to other aspects of mail voting and voter protection. Learn more via links in our bio and at equaljusticesociety.org.

Nonprofit Quarterly published a new op-ed by EJS President Lisa Holder, “From the Birthing Chamber to the Ballot Box: A ...
08/18/2026

Nonprofit Quarterly published a new op-ed by EJS President Lisa Holder, “From the Birthing Chamber to the Ballot Box: A Choice Between Erasure and Equality.”

It's part of the : America 250 series, a national narrative movement to put the multiracial nonprofit and civil society workers, organizations, and communities at the center of how the United States tells the stories and histories of 250 years of fighting for a true, vibrant democracy for all.

https://equaljusticesociety.org to access the link to the op-ed.

In her piece, Lisa reminds us to look beyond the myth of unblemished progress and confront the brutal reality of systemic racism. From the birthing chamber to the ballot box, the biological and systemic toll of exclusion remains stark:

Maternal Health Crisis: Black women nationwide are 3 to 4 times more likely to die in childbirth than non-Black women, regardless of education or income level.

Devastating Disparities: In wealthy cities like San Francisco, Black newborns face an infant mortality rate 6 times higher than White infants.

Erosion of Rights: These healthcare disparities reflect broader systemic attacks, mirrored in Supreme Court decisions like Louisiana v. Callais that erode democratic protections.

True freedom requires dismantling these legacy injustices rather than tearing down the foundations of democracy.

What steps must we take to protect Black mothers and preserve equal rights for all? Please read and share Lisa’s thought piece.

The Equal Justice Society joined an amicus brief filed by the Asian Law Caucus and other organizations in the U.S. Supre...
08/04/2026

The Equal Justice Society joined an amicus brief filed by the Asian Law Caucus and other organizations in the U.S. Supreme Court urging the Court to reject the Trump administration’s request to reinstate Executive Order 14399, which would undermine access to the ballot, potentially disenfranchising tens of millions of American voters, and bring federal interference into state elections administration.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, South Asian American Justice Collaborative, and Common Cause were the other groups that filed the brief on behalf of EJS and 23 organizations.

The filing comes after a federal court blocked key provisions of the Executive Order and the Trump administration and intervenor states asked the Supreme Court to allow its implementation while the case proceeds. With the November midterm elections only months away, civil rights and community organizations are alarmed by the Executive Order.

Many of these organizations have spent decades providing direct services and conducting voter outreach and education and urge the Supreme Court to deny the Trump Administration’s request to stay the lower court’s decision invalidating the main sections of the Executive Order. In addition to disenfranchising eligible voters, the Executive Order creates confusion and doubt for all eligible voters seeking to mail in their ballots.

Read more at https://equaljusticesociety.org.

07/31/2026

KNOW MY NAME
By Michael Tyler, EJS Poet-in-Residence

Pick your plagues, your afflictions,
Your calamitous conditions
And blend them in a lethal combination.
Add your viruses, your germs,
Your parasitic worms
And prepare them for deadly dissemination.

Cast their carnage, their rife,
Their contempt for all life,
Their competence for devastation.
And with combined ferocity
They won’t measure to me.
I am the most malignant contamination.

My toxins, my gloom,
My decay and my doom
Are constrained only by imagination.
My disease, my infection,
My cruel predilection
Have destroyed entire populations.

I’ve no conscience, no code,
No morality mode,
Neither virtue nor humiliation.
My sole purpose, my aim
Is to service my gain.
I’ve no use for humane consideration.

Know my name.
Know my need.
I am greed.

--
From Sow the Seeds: A composition in verse

Read more of Michael Tyler's poetry on equaljusticesociety.org

Equal Justice Society Board Chair Fernando Gaytan and President Lisa Holder welcomed Tiseme Zegeye and Nicole Middleton ...
07/22/2026

Equal Justice Society Board Chair Fernando Gaytan and President Lisa Holder welcomed Tiseme Zegeye and Nicole Middleton Holloway to the organization’s board of directors.

Tiseme Zegeye is a partner in Lieff Cabraser’s San Francisco office, representing consumers, employees, and the injured in individual, complex, and class actions. She specializes in women’s health, civil rights, and environmental justice cases. Tiseme has been working with EJS since late 2022 as a member of the Lieff Cabraser/EJS team in litigation against hair relaxer companies holding them accountable for cancer-causing products sold to Black women. Over 10,000 women have filed claims in federal court against hair relaxer manufacturers and sellers alleging that the use of chemical hair relaxer products caused gynecological cancers and related injuries. Tiseme also helps lead the Lieff Cabraser/EJS Health Equity Newsletter advocating for racial health equity and environmental justice in the United States.

Nicole Middleton Holloway is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and co-founder/CEO of Strategy Squad, a wealth management firm based in Oakland, CA. As a financial advisor and a financial activist, Nicole specializes in helping individuals and nonprofits across the U.S. incorporate racial, gender, and economic justice into their investment strategies. Her mission is to empower more investors to adopt investing practices that build community wealth and power, and help transition our world of extraction towards a world of interdependence, liberation, and resilience. Nicole has been able to leverage her skills and expertise to both grow a successful book of business, and open the door for more underrepresented groups to work in the field of sustainable investing. Nicole has also been an advisor with Natural Investments PBLLC since 2020, where she has served in leadership as a Trust Steward since 2023.

Tiseme and Nicole join current EJS board members Fernando Gaytan, Eric Gibbs, Michael Harris, Lisa Holder, Raymond C. Marshall, Shauna Marshall, and Donald K. Tamaki.

Learn more: https://equaljusticesociety.org/2026/07/22/new-board-members-tiseme-zegeye-and-nicole-middleton-holloway/

The Equal Justice Society welcomes Dru Spiller as our 2026-2027 Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellow through...
07/20/2026

The Equal Justice Society welcomes Dru Spiller as our 2026-2027 Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellow through a fellowship honoring the first African American woman to serve on the federal bench. Dru started at EJS on July 13.

The Motley Fellowship is funded by a generous gift from Elizabeth J. Cabraser. EJS established the Fellowship in 2006 to nurture the talents of a new generation of progressive lawyers to transform anti-discrimination law and policy.

“Our profound gratitude to Elizabeth Cabraser for her sustained and generous funding of the Motley Fellowship,” said EJS President Lisa Holder. “Elizabeth’s incredible generosity means that EJS can continue to scale up its civil rights protection and expansion program and play an even greater role in fortifying the framework for multiracial inclusive democracy.”

"We are thrilled to welcome Dru Spiller as our Judge Constance Baker Motley Fellow. Dru’s strong background in environmental justice, human rights, and community advocacy makes her a great addition to our team. Whether holding corporations accountable or defending communities against harsh immigration policies, Dru has shown that her advocacy is rooted in justice. Her talent and dedication will be incredibly valuable as we continue to advance our critical work to repair the harm and fight for systemic justice,” said Mona Tawatao, EJS Legal Director.

Read more:
https://equaljusticesociety.org/2026/07/20/dru-spiller-motley-fellow-2026-2027/

07/18/2026

In a new essay, EJS Poet-in-Residence Michael Tyler reveals why he writes and when he became a writer. Learn about the “Crazy 15” method and the painful, beautiful process of unlearning.

https://equaljusticesociety.org

Today the Equal Justice Society announced the departure of long-tenured director, Kelly Dermody, from the organization’s...
07/10/2026

Today the Equal Justice Society announced the departure of long-tenured director, Kelly Dermody, from the organization’s Board of Directors. Kelly has served on the EJS Board since November 2018. She is the Managing Partner of the San Francisco Office of the law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP.

The departure comes as Kelly begins a new chapter of board governance on the Board of Trustees for the California State University (CSU) system. CSU is the country’s largest public university system, with 23 campuses and approximately 500,000 students. Kelly was appointed to serve by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

“Kelly’s eight years of service on our board have been transformative for the Equal Justice Society,” said Lisa Holder, President of EJS. “She brought her legal brilliance and strategic advocacy to our mission and a profound generosity that boosted our capacity, funding our Civil Rights Organizer position and anchoring our vital co-counseling partnership with Lieff Cabraser.”

“While we will deeply miss her insight and leadership on the board, we are thrilled to congratulate Kelly on her appointment to the California State University Board of Trustees. CSU’s students and campuses are gaining a fierce, unparalleled champion for equity, and we carry immense gratitude for the lasting legacy that Kelly leaves here at EJS.”

Kelly joined the EJS board in November 2018, having already been a significant EJS supporter, including as a major gift sponsor of the Eva Paterson Legacy Fund. Since joining the EJS Board, Kelly has supported the expansion of the organization’s work, particularly in the area of health equity, and has helped fund a newly created staff Civil Rights Organizer position at EJS.

Read more:
https://tinyurl.com/22jpvoeo

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