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Overviews
History
Landmark Legislation
Supreme Court Decisions
Civil Rights Offices
Selected Non-Governmental Organizations
Research Links
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Selected Non-Governmental Organizations
General
Alliance for Justice
The Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations. Since its inception in 1979, the Alliance has worked to advance the cause of justice for all Americans, strengthen the public interest community's ability to influence public policy, and foster the next generation of advocates.
http://www.afj.org/
American Civil Liberties Union
The nation's foremost advocate of individual rights -- educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the U.S.
http://www.aclu.org/
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Civilrights.org is a joint project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund. The goal of civilrights.org is to recruit, educate and mobilize individuals of good conscience in the ongoing struggle for equal opportunity. Through education, advocacy and links to thousands of other organizations working to promote equal opportunity, civilrights.org aims to serve as a central repository and trusted intermediary for information on a variety of civil and human rights issues.
http://www.civilrights.org/index_active.html
By Population Group
African-Americans
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a national, nonprofit institution that conducts research on public policy issues of special concerns to black Americans and other minorities. Founded in 1970, the Joint Center provides independent analyses through research, publications and outreach programs.
http://www.jointctr.org/
Martin Luther King, Jr., the King Center
The King Center is the institutional guardian of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.¡¦s legacy. It is the official living memorial to his life, work, and philosophy. The King Center, in cooperation with the Estate of Dr. King, has a legal, spiritual, and moral responsibility to maintain the integrity of Dr. King¡¦s Legacy by serving as the national and international clearing house for officially sanctioned King programs and products. By reaching out to individuals and organizations, we ensure that entities connected with Dr. King¡¦s legacy in any manner maintain a high level of integrity in keeping with his image as a world leader.
http://www.thekingcenter.com/
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Founded in 1909 in New York City by a group of black and white citizens committed to social justice, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the nation's largest and strongest civil rights organization. The NAACP's principal objective is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of United States and eliminate race prejudice. The NAACP seeks remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes. This mission is accomplished by seeking the enactment and enforcement of federal, state and local laws securing civil rights, and by informing the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination.
http://www.naacp.org/
The National Bar Association
During the first quarter of the 20th century, twelve African American pioneers with a mutual interest in and dedication to justice and the civil rights of all, helped structure the struggle of the African American race in America. The National Bar Association (NBA) was formally organized in Des Moines, Iowa on August 1, 1925. The purpose of the National Bar Association is "...to advance the science of jurisprudence, uphold the honor of the legal profession, promote social intercourse among the members of the bar, and protect the civil and political rights of all citizens of the several states of the United States.
http://www.nationalbar.org
The Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a non-profit organization that combats hate, intolerance and discrimination through education and litigation. Its programs include Teaching Tolerance and the Intelligence Project, which incorporates Klanwatch and the Militia Task Force. The Center also sponsors the Civil Rights Memorial which celebrates the memory of 40 individuals who died during the Civil Rights Movement.
http://www.splcenter.org/
The Urban League
Founded in 1910, the National Urban League is a nonprofit organization that, through its more than 100 affiliates in 34 states and the District of Columbia, provides direct services and functions as an advocate to generate policy reforms that empower African-Americans to achieve economic, academic and racial equality. The mission of the National Urban League is to assist African Americans in the achievement of social and economic equality.
http://www.nul.org/
The Aged
American Association of Retired Persons
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association dedicated to shaping and enriching the experience of aging for our members and for all Americans. Founded in 1958 by retired educator Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, we are today the nation's largest organization of midlife and older persons, with more than 30 million members.
http://www.aarp.org/index.html/
National Council on Aging
NCOA is the nation's first association of organizations and professionals dedicated to promoting the dignity, self-determination, well being, and contributions of older persons.
http://www.ncoa.org/
American Indians
Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a non-profit organization that provides legal representation and technical assistance to Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide. Our mission is: preservation of tribal existence, protection of tribal natural resources, promotion of human rights, accountability of governments, development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.
http://www.narf.org/
National Congress of American Indians
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most representative national Indian organization serving the needs of a broad membership of American Indian and Alaska Native governments. Our founding members stressed the need for unity and cooperation among tribal governments and people for the security and protection of treaty and sovereign rights. As the preeminent national Indian organization, NCAI is organized as a representative congress aiming for consensus on national priority issues.
http://www.ncai.org/
Arabs
American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee
ADC is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage. ADC, which is non-sectarian, non- partisan is the largest Arab-American grassroots organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk and has chapters nationwide. Through its Department of Legal Services, ADC offers counseling in cases of discrimination and defamation and selected impact litigation in the areas of immigration.
http://www.adc.org/index.html
Arab American Institute
The Arab American Institute was organized in 1985 to represent Arab American interests in government and politics. AAI provides leadership training and strategies in electoral politics and policy issues that concern Arab Americans. The institute serves as a clearinghouse for Arab American participation in national, state and local politics and government; research on the Arab American constituency; and a forum for consensus positions on pressing domestic and foreign policy matters.
http://www.arab-aai.org/
Asian-Americans
Japanese American Citizens League
The Japanese American Citizens League, the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, was founded in 1929 to address issues of discrimination targeted specifically at persons of Japanese ancestry residing in the United States. The JACL was established to fight for the civil rights primarily of Japanese Americans but also for the benefit of Chinese Americans and other peoples of color. While the JACL's founding mission was focused on protecting the civil rights of Americans of Japanese ancestry, today we are committed to protecting the rights of all segments of the Asian Pacific American community.
http://www.jacl.org/
The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, was incorporated in 1991 and opened its Washington, D.C. office in 1993.
http://www.napalc.org/
Children
Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions
Advocates civil and social rights for teenagers.
http://www.asfar.org/
Children with Disabilities
The Children With Disabilities Web site offers families, service providers, and other interested individuals information about advocacy, education, employment, health, housing, recreation, technical assistance, and transportation covering a broad array of developmental, physical, and emotional disabilities.
http://childrenwithdisabilities.ncjrs.org/
Children's Defense Fund
The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind® and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick or into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown.
http://www.childrensdefense.org/
Disabled
American Council of the Blind
The Council strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.
http://www.acb.org/
The Association for the Severely Handicapped
Building communities in which no one is segregated and everyone belongs; Forging new alliances that embrace diversity; Advocating for opportunities and rights; Eradicating injustices and inequities; Supporting research and disseminating knowledge and information; Promoting inclusive education; Supporting progressive legislation and litigation; Promoting excellence in services.
http://www.tash.org/
The Council for Disability Rights
CDR provides public education, information, referrals, counseling, job training, and many other services to the disabled community. Though many of our programs are local to the Chicago area, much of the information we provide is not. CDR is a non-profit organization. On national, state, and local levels, the Council for Disability Rights advances the rights of people with disabilities. The Council promotes public policy and legislation, public awareness through education, and provides information and referral services.
http://www.disabilityrights.org/
Disability Rights Advocates
Founded in 1993, Disability Rights Advocates is a national and international non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities. Operated by and established for people with disabilities, DRA pursues its mission through research, education, and legal advocacy. DRA's mission is to ensure dignity, equality, and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities throughout the United States and worldwide.
http://www.dralegal.org/
National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy
America's mental institutions are the shame of the nation. NARPA, the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy, exists to expose these everyday abuses. NARPA, an independent organization, is a unique mix of people who've survived these institutions, advocates, civil rights activists, mental health workers, and lawyers. NARPA exists to expose abuse, to shed light on coercive and dangerous practices, and to promote real alternatives to a mental health system that even professionals agree is a disgrace.
http://www.connix.com/~narpa/
National Association of People with AIDS
NAPWA advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS in order to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV/AIDS. Over the years, NAPWA has been a strong and consistent national leader for people with AIDS, ensuring that our voice is always at the table when decisions affecting our lives are being made. We have had a critical impact on the nation's policies affecting us and changed the way policy makers work with all people affected by a disability or disease.
http://www.napwa.org/
National Federation of the Blind
Founded in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the nation's largest and most influential membership organization of blind persons. With fifty thousand members, the NFB has affiliates in all fifty states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, and over seven hundred local chapters. As a consumer and advocacy organization, the NFB is considered the leading force in the blindness field today.
http://www.nfb.org/
National Association of the Deaf
Founded in 1880, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the oldest and largest organization representing people with disabilities in the United States. The NAD safeguards the accessibility and civil rights of 28 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans in a variety of areas including education, employment, health care and social services, and telecommunications.
http://nad.policy.net/
Gay/Lesbian
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
NGLTF is the national progressive organization working for the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. NGLTF's vision and commitment to social change is building a powerful political movement in the fifty states and the District of Columbia.
http://www.ngltf.org/index.cfm
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign works around the clock to
amplify the voices for fairness nationwide. Our team of
Washington-based lobbyists and thousands of citizen
advocates have launched an ambitious effort to reach out
to members of Congress and discuss our critical issues.
http://www.hrc.org/
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
http://www.lambdalegal.org/
Hispanic-Latino
League of United Latin American Citizens
With approximately 115,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 600 LULAC councils nationwide. The organization involves and serves all Hispanic nationality groups. Historically, LULAC has focused heavily on education, civil rights, and employment for Hispanics.
http://www.lulac.org/
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) protects and promotes the civil rights of Latinos living in the United States. Making sure there are no obstacles preventing this diverse community from realizing its dreams, MALDEF works through litigation, advocacy, community outreach and education to secure the rights of Latinos, primarily in the areas of employment, education, immigration, political access and public resource equity. Since its founding in 1968, MALDEF has become the leading Latino civil rights organization in the nation, establishing several legal precedents that have tremendously benefited Latinos and other under-served groups throughout the country.
http://www.maldef.org/
The National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization established in 1968 to reduce poverty and discrimination, and improve life opportunities, for Hispanic Americans. NCLR has chosen to work toward this goal through two primary, complementary approaches:
Capacity-building assistance to support and strengthen Hispanic community-based organizations: providing organizational assistance in management, governance, program operations, and resource development to Hispanic community-based organizations in urban and rural areas nationwide, especially those which serve low-income and disadvantaged Hispanics.
Applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy: providing an Hispanic perspective on issues such as education, immigration, housing, health, employment and training, and civil rights enforcement, to increase policy-maker and public understanding of Hispanic needs, and to encourage the adoption of programs and policies which equitably serve Hispanics.
http://www.nclr.org/policy/civil.html/
Homeless
National Coalition for the Homeless
The National Coalition for the Homeless is a national advocacy network of homeless persons, activists, service providers, and others committed to ending homelessness through public education, policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, and technical assistance.
http://nch.ari.net/wwwhome.html/
Immigrants
Center for Immigration Studies
The Center for Immigration Studies is a non-partisan, non-profit organization founded in 1985. It is the nation's only think tank devoted exclusively to research and policy analysis of the economic, social, demographic, fiscal, and other impacts of immigration on the United States.
http://www.cis.org/
National Immigration Forum
The purpose of the National Immigration Forum is to embrace and uphold America's tradition as a nation of immigrants. The Forum advocates and builds public support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and that are fair and supportive to newcomers in our country.
http://www.immigrationforum.org/
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
From Washington State to New York state, NNIRR member organizations and activists utilize the network as a tool to enhance collaboration, build and develop strategy, and push thinking and analysis "outside the box" of service provision or "quick-fix" legislation. Our program aims to involve, support, and empower immigrant communities to address the critical issues in their neighborhoods and workplaces. Our work for immigrant rights is bound to a vision of equality, justice, and democracy.
http://www.nnirr.org/
Jewish
American Jewish Congress
AJCongress has its mission to: protect fundamental constitutional freedoms and American democratic institutions, particularly the civil and religious rights and liberties of all Americans and the separation of church and state; advance the security and prosperity of the State of Israel and its democratic institutions, and to support Israel's search for peaceful relations with its neighbors in the region; advance social and economic justice, women's equality, and human rights at home and abroad; remain vigilant against anti-Semitism, racism, and other forms of bigotry, and to celebrate cultural diversity and promote unity in American life; and invigorate and enhance Jewish religious, institutional, communal and cultural life at home and abroad, and seek creative ways to express Jewish identity, ethics and values.
http://ajcongress.org/
Anti-Defamation League
ADL is America's prime resource for information on organized bigotry. The League collects and assesses a vast amount of information on anti-Semites, racists and extremists. After carefully evaluating information, ADL disseminates that information through books, periodicals, videos, reports and other materials. The League also monitors haters in cyberspace. Anti-Semitism, bigotry and racism often manifest themselves in the form of discriminatory conduct. ADL vigorously opposes and combats such discrimination.
http://www.adl.org/
Muslim
American Muslim Council
The American Muslim Council was established in 1990 to increase the effective participation of American Muslims in the U.S. political and public policy arenas. The American Muslim population, estimated at seven million, comprises Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds. AMC aims to promote ethical values that enhance the quality of life for all Americans and to catalyze the greater presence of American Muslims in mainstream public life. The American Muslim Council has played a key role in political advocacy for American Muslims throughout the 1990s, initiating many of the historic events marking the entrance of Islam into mainstream American culture.
http://www.amconline.org/newamc/
Council on Islamic American Relations
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a non-profit, grassroots membership organization. We have headquarters in Washington, D.C., and CAIR chapters across America.
CAIR was established to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America. We believe misrepresentations of Islam are most often the result of ignorance on the part of non-Muslims and reluctance on the part of Muslims to articulate their case. CAIR is dedicated to presenting an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to the American public. In Offering that perspective, we seek to empower the Muslim community in America through political and social activism.
http://www.cair-net.org/
Prisoners
The Other Side of the Wall
Site maintained by and for prisoners linking to organizations and resources.
http://www.prisonwall.org/
Soldiers
GI Rights Network
Quaker House, with a staff of one, assists and supports military personnel who are conscientious objectors to seek discharge or noncombatant service. In addition, staff counsels and makes referrals for military personnel who are seeking a legal discharge, who feel they have been discriminated against because of race, sexual orientation, gender, or religion, and those who are Absent Without Leave (AWOL) and wish to return for a legal discharge.
http://www.quakerhouse.org/rights.html/
Women
National Organization for Women
NOW stands for the National Organization for Women. NOW is dedicated to making legal, political, social and economic change in our society in order to achieve our goal, which is to eliminate sexism and end all oppression.
http://www.now.org
Women's Human Rights Net
whrNET is a collaborative Information & Communication Technology (ICT) project developed by an international coalition of women's organizations. whrNET aims to strengthen advocacy for women's human rights through the effective utilization of information and communication technologies. The sponsoring organizations are part of a global movement for women's human rights that has grown steadily since the World Conference of Human Rights (Vienna, 1993) and the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995). whrNET is jointly sponsored and supported by its partner organizations and is governed by an elected International Executive Committee. whrNET links partner organizations and women's human rights advocates worldwide via the Internet.
http://www.whrnet.org/home.htm
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