FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2026
Contact: [email protected] 

WASHINGTON — The national racial justice organization Race Forward today condemned the Department of Justice investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights and anti-hate stalwart. The investigation sent shockwaves through the civil rights community, and Race Forward President Glenn Harris issued the following statement:

“Race Forward stands with and in support of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The administration’s attack on this stalwart civil rights organization is clearly retaliation against those who fight for justice and democracy. By targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center, the administration continues to send its message that efforts to advance justice will be punished. Make no mistake, this is an attempt to frighten into submission and silence advocates, organizers and movement leaders working to advance a multiracial democracy.

“It is imperative that justice organizations and the American people continue to fight against an authoritarian regime that seeks to silence all opposition by criminalizing our First Amendment rights. We recognize–and they do also–our collective power. In this moment, we must remain resilient, channeling the spirit of our ancestors and the civil rights leaders who came before us. Just as they resisted injustice, we also will not be deterred."

###