Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

08/28/2026

Sixty-three years ago today, hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the March on Washington to demand jobs, freedom, and equal justice.

The movement they built helped strengthen the laws and institutions charged with turning those demands into lasting civil rights protections.

For decades, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has been central to that work. Today, that critical civil rights infrastructure has been devastated. Career attorneys have departed in extraordinary numbers, longstanding enforcement priorities have been abandoned, and the Division has been turned away from much of its historic civil rights mission.

At a moment when the federal government has retreated from much of its historic civil rights enforcement role, organizations like the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs are more important than ever.

At this year’s Wiley A. Branton Awards Luncheon, we honored alumni of the DOJ Civil Rights Division whose careers have been dedicated to equal justice. Hear from them about what has been lost—and why the fight must continue.

That work is not finished. Neither are we.

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04vC-7F0

08/27/2026

As we approach the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington, when hundreds of thousands gathered to demand jobs, freedom, and equal justice, we are reminded that the fight for civil rights is not only part of our history. It continues every day.

At the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, we carry that legacy forward by challenging racial discrimination, defending the rights of immigrants, protecting equal access to education, fighting for disability rights, advancing workers’ rights, and standing up for communities whose rights are under attack.

From our recent landmark victory for Black students in Shenandoah County to our ongoing work defending immigrants and protecting civil rights across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, we continue to use the law to confront discrimination and hold institutions accountable.

The generations who marched for freedom and equality helped transform our nation. We honor their courage by continuing the work—and by defending the rights they fought so hard to secure.

The fight for equal justice continues.

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04vtBDx0

08/26/2026

The Rev. Dr. Philip C. Hirsch has seen firsthand what happens when people become afraid to enter their own places of worship.

Congregations across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia have seen attendance decline, and some ministries have canceled English-language classes because people are afraid to come to church.

Rev. Hirsch is part of WLC’s lawsuit, filed alongside Democracy Forward and Gilbert LLP, challenging the administration’s decision to allow immigration enforcement in houses of worship—a policy he says threatens religious freedom and the ability of faith communities to serve their neighbors.

Earlier this year, our lawsuit secured a preliminary injunction restricting immigration enforcement at thousands of houses of worship represented in the case. Now, following reports of undercover ICE surveillance inside and around a Minneapolis church covered by that injunction, a federal judge has ordered the government to explain why it should not be held in contempt for violating the Court’s order.

“As an American, I’m appalled that our Constitution that promises the freedom of religion has been so easily dismissed,” he says.

As part of our series examining the federal takeover of DC and broader government overreach, hear from Rev. Hirsch about the impact of this policy on faith and immigrant communities.

Everyone should be able to worship without fear.

Read more about our case: https://hubs.la/Q04vjFhC0

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04vjGFw0

08/24/2026

Another victory for birthright citizenship—and for our clients.

Last year, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, alongside Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, filed a lawsuit on behalf of OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates challenging President Trump’s attempt to deny citizenship to children born in the United States based on their parents’ immigration status.

When the Supreme Court limited the availability of nationwide injunctions in 2025, our case continued.

When the Supreme Court reaffirmed the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship this June, our case continued.

Last week, a federal court declared President Trump’s birthright citizenship Executive Order unconstitutional and granted permanent relief to our individual plaintiffs.

The Constitution is clear: children born in the United States are citizens at birth. No president can take that right away by executive order.

We’re proud to have stood with our clients and partners to defend that fundamental promise.

Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q04tVDLQ0

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04tVLqL0

08/21/2026

A landmark court ruling in Shenandoah County affirmed the rights of students who challenged their School Board’s decision to restore Confederate names to two public schools.

Rev. Cozy Bailey, President of the NAACP Virginia State Conference, reflects on what this victory means for the students who stood up for their rights, the community, and those who will come after them.

But as Rev. Bailey reminds us, there is still a “last mile” to go.

The court has ruled that the Confederate school names must change. Now, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, NAACP Virginia State Conference, and Covington & Burling LLP are working to ensure that ruling becomes a reality.

As that work continues, there is also an opportunity for the Shenandoah County community to come together and move forward—to build a community that, in Rev. Bailey’s words, “all people who live there could be proud of.”

The court has ruled. Now, the work continues to ensure the students see the change they fought for.

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04tNpXZ0

08/19/2026

Everyone should be able to worship without fear.

For decades, federal policy limited immigration enforcement at houses of worship and other sensitive locations. In January 2025, the administration ended those protections, leaving immigrant communities fearful that gathering to practice their faith could put them at risk.

The impact has been profound. Some congregations represented in our case have seen attendance decline by as much as 80%.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (WLC) represents more than 20 religious organizations encompassing more than 7,000 congregations nationwide. Earlier this year, we won a preliminary injunction sharply limiting immigration enforcement at houses of worship represented in our case. Now, we’re fighting to make those protections permanent and expand them to all the organizations we represent.

As part of our series examining the federal takeover of DC and broader government overreach, we’re highlighting WLC’s fight to protect religious freedom and the rights of immigrant communities across the country.

Hear from WLC Legal Director Ryan Downer about what’s at stake—and why we continue to fight for the right to worship without fear.

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04tvyLR0

08/17/2026

One year after the federal takeover of the District of Columbia, thousands of National Guard troops remain deployed throughout DC.

For the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (WLC), challenging the National Guard deployment is about fighting for DC autonomy, democracy, racial justice, and the right of DC residents to have a voice in how our own city is governed.

In September 2025, WLC and ACLU of DC wrote an amicus brief on behalf of a coalition of legal services organizations supporting DC’s challenge to the National Guard deployment. Our brief argued that deploying the National Guard against the will of DC residents was anti-democratic.

Our fight continues today.

The National Guard deployment has now been extended through January 2029, making the fight to protect DC autonomy and democratic accountability more urgent than ever.

WLC remains committed to ending the prolonged, unwarranted deployment of the National Guard in our city and defending the rights and autonomy of the people who call DC home.

Support our work: https://hubs.ly/Q04tby0R0

08/14/2026

Before last week’s landmark ruling in favor of the students challenging the reinstatement of Confederate school names, WLC Deputy Legal Director Kaitlin Banner joined Akilah Hughes, host of the Rebel Spirit podcast, to discuss why the case mattered—not only to the students who brought it, but to the ongoing fight for equal educational opportunity.

The Court found that reinstating school names honoring Confederate leaders violated the constitutional and civil rights of Black students. The Court ordered the School Board to remove the names “Stonewall Jackson” and “Ashby-Lee” and adopt new school names that are not racially discriminatory.

If you’d like to learn more about the history behind this important case and the courageous students who stood up for their rights, listen to Kaitlin’s conversation on the Rebel Spirit podcast.

Listen here: https://hubs.la/Q04sZM4s0

Read about the court’s decision: https://hubs.la/Q04sZM5p0

See recent media coverage: https://hubs.la/Q04sZW_D0

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04sZ_Th0

08/13/2026

As Shenandoah County considers what comes next following last week’s landmark civil rights ruling, local families and community members are weighing in.

In this commentary, Shenandoah County parent and homeowner Adam Sharp considers the potential costs to students, taxpayers, and the broader community if the litigation continues.

The Court has ordered the School Board to remove the Confederate school names and adopt new names “on a racially nondiscriminatory basis with all deliberate speed.”

Read one local parent’s perspective on what should happen next.

Judge Michael F. Urbanski has ordered the Shenandoah County School Board to change the names of two schools after the board restored older discriminatory names following a name change in 2020. The board has officially filed neither a request for a stay of judgment nor an appeal, but local sources indicate the board is prepared to exercise its option to appeal.

Online: https://augustafreepress.com/news/adam-sharp-shenandoah-county-school-board-fights-for-its-sunk-cause/

08/13/2026

One year ago this week, the federal takeover of Washington, DC changed the landscape of our city. Immigration agents surged into neighborhoods across the District, while thousands of National Guard troops were deployed throughout the city.

But one thing has not faltered: the response of DC residents, community organizations, and advocates standing up for our city and our rights.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (WLC) is proud to be part of that fight.

Together with our partners, we challenged the administration’s practice of warrantless immigration arrests without probable cause—and won a preliminary injunction ordering DHS to stop. When DHS violated that order, we went back to court and won again. In the wake of that ruling, warrantless immigration arrests without probable cause have plunged to almost zero.

We also joined DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s fight against the National Guard deployment, helping lead an amicus brief defending DC autonomy. That fight continues today, with more than 4,600 National Guard troops still deployed in our city.

One year later, our work continues.

We need you to join us in this fight—for our city, our capital, and our democracy.

We remain committed to ending the prolonged, unwarranted deployment of the National Guard in our city; watching the DHS presence for illegal actions; and fighting for accountability from those who patrol and police DC.

Support our work: https://hubs.la/Q04sTBJt0