Nonprofit Union Coalition Raises Concerns about Federal Charges Brought Against the Southern Poverty Law Center
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2026 - On May 7, 2026, the Southern Poverty Law Center was arraigned on federal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and pleaded not guilty.
"The Department of Justice prosecution of the Southern Poverty Law Center raises serious concerns about the selective targeting of nonprofits whose missions conflict with this administration's agenda. Pursuing a criminal conviction sends the chilling message that mission-driven work seen as challenging those in power comes with legal risk. Nonprofit workers deliver critical services and advocacy that communities depend on. The constitutional rights of nonprofit employees and their organizations must be respected, not threatened. As a coalition of unions whose members work across the nonprofit sector, we stand with the union employees of the Southern Poverty Law Center and with nonprofit workers everywhere."
Nonprofit Union Coalition members joining this statement include:
AFT
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
About the Nonprofit Union Coalition
The Nonprofit Union Coalition brings together unions representing workers across the nonprofit sector’s 12.7-million-person workforce . The coalition provides nonprofit union members with a voice in federal policymaking to deepen the economic strength and sustainability of the nonprofit sector.
