This week, you can: 1) help repair the damage of the Trump administration by joining our sign-on supporting two civil rights leaders nominated to serve in Biden’s DOJ; 2) welcome asylum seekers who have been stuck living in camping tents in Mexico for months or even years by supporting Project Corazon; and 3) volunteer to establish a right to water in Michigan or enforce treaty rights to natural resources in Wisconsin. Highlighted bullets indicate an action you can take now.

1. Support Civil Rights Nominees to the DOJ: Today, during Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing, Senator Mike Lee made contemptible and disingenuous attacks against civil rights leaders Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke. We’ve seen these kinds of attacks on civil rights leaders during nominations fights before, and it’s why we are doubling down on our efforts to support the nominations of Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke. More than 900 of you have already signed our support letter that we will send to the US Senate Judiciary Committee before their confirmation hearings. It’s imperative that our community indicate collective support for these civil rights leaders now.

   • Join our sign-on letter here. Please share with friends, colleagues, and family members as well.

   • Read a Twitter thread from Adam Fernandez, our VP of Policy, explaining the historical significance of these nominations and the importance of joining our sign-on letter.
     
     

2. Welcome Asylum Seekers: Friday was the first day of new registrations and processing for asylum seekers in the MPP program. Families who have been waiting months or even years, stuck living in camping tents after being abandoned on the streets of Mexican border cities like Matamoros and Tijuana, are finally getting a chance at safety. Our team is on the ground in Matamoros providing support for registering in the system and advocating for the most vulnerable asylum seekers, those with medical conditions or disabilities, for example, to be admitted as soon as possible.

   • Listen to Charlene D’Cruz on NPR’s Here and Now.

   • Watch a video update from the border.

   • Directly support our efforts by donating here.
     
     

3. Help Establish a Right to Water in Michigan and Enforce Tribal Treaty Rights in Wisconsin: L4GG is embarking on two new environmental justice efforts where we need pro bono volunteers.

   • First, we’re working with community groups in Michigan to help establish a right to water, and need attorneys (experienced FOIA attorneys and Michigan-licensed attorneys preferred) to conduct research into affordability of water in the metro Detroit area and implementation of the lead and copper rule throughout the state.

   • Second, we’re partnering with the Midwest Environmental Associates and the Ojibwe tribes in Wisconsin to help enforce treaty rights under the USSC Culverts case. We need pro bono support to conduct case law research and prepare a legal memorandum.

   • If you have the requisite experience and are interested in volunteering for either of these efforts, please email Jillian Blanchard, Director of L4GG’s Climate Change Program at climatechange@L4GG.org. Note: L4GG Foundation cannot provide malpractice insurance for these matters.

With gratitude,

Traci

Traci Feit Love
Founder & President
Lawyers for Good Government Foundation