Yesterday, the Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury returned an 11-count criminal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for wire and bank fraud. The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) strongly condemns this abuse of power by President Trump’s Justice Department against an American civil rights institution.
NCAC’s Executive Director Lee Rowland issued the following statement:
“Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the administration using its power to bully its perceived political adversaries into submission. Following coordinated attacks on universities, law firms, and the nation’s premier cultural institutions, the message this indictment sends to civil society is clear: dissent is not tolerated. While this is another attack in a long list over the past year, we know it will not be the last.
“Civil society organizations like SPLC are the unsung heroes of our democracy, staffed by dedicated individuals who work to improve lives, advocate for their principles, and fight for individual rights.
“While NCAC’s mission differs from SPLC’s, every civil organization, big or small, has a duty to oppose the use of federal criminal law to intimidate and silence the government’s critics. This indictment is an egregious assault on a non-profit organization’s advocacy tactics, which are fully protected by the First Amendment. It is incumbent on every American—whether they agree with SPLC’s mission or not—to oppose this flagrant abuse of power. Civil society is not a target or punching bag for any party or president—it is the backbone of a free society.”
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UPDATE 4/29/26: Today, Fidelity investments announced that it had removed the Southern Poverty Law Center as one of its donor-advised fund recipients due to the current federal indictment of the organization. This means that people can not use their Fidelity funds to donate to the SPLC—at the same time, the Department of Justice’s politically-motivated investigation may motivate them to do so. Fidelity’s decision exacerbates the harm caused by the DOJ’s unjust investigation into SPLC’s constitutionally protected activities.
