“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”
— Angela Y. Davis
Co-Chair, Justice Takes a Fight Campaign
Co-Chair, Justice Takes a Fight Campaign
For six decades, the Center for Constitutional Rights has used the law as a tool of resistance, accountability, and transformation. Now, as we mark our 60th anniversary, we are launching the public phase of our Justice Takes a Fight Campaign to sustain and grow the organization for the fights ahead. Help us celebrate this milestone anniversary by making a campaign gift today.
Gifts to the Justice Takes a Fight Campaign are separate from annual giving and above and beyond a donor's annual gift.
Annual gifts remain essential to sustaining CCR's ongoing work. Campaign gifts provide the transformative investments needed to expand our impact, strengthen our infrastructure, and secure CCR's future for the next generation of struggle against systemic oppression.
The threats we face today are urgent and interconnected: attacks on free speech and protest, efforts to criminalize vulnerable communities, expanding corporate and state power, and growing attempts to erode rights people have fought generations to secure. CCR's 60th anniversary is not only a moment to honor our history. It is a call to invest in the next era of fearless legal advocacy.
The finish line is in sight. More than $17 million has already been committed toward our $20 million goal — and the final stretch belongs to all of us.
The Justice Takes a Fight Campaign invests in the programs, people, reserves, and physical infrastructure CCR needs to meet this moment and carry our 60-year legacy into the future.
The South is where some of the nation's most consequential battles for justice are unfolding.
From Louisiana's Cancer Alley to attacks on democratic participation, Southern communities are confronting entrenched forms of racial, environmental, economic, and political injustice. CCR South deepens our ability to partner with communities and movement leaders fighting for a future rooted in self-determination, dignity, and repair.
This investment expands CCR's long-term presence and responsiveness in the South, ensuring that communities have legal partners capable of supporting transformative change for years to come.
Support communities resisting toxic development, displacement, and environmental racism.
Support Black communities and other historically marginalized communities across the South confronting systemic racism, discriminatory policing, environmental racism, unlawful immigration practices, and ongoing efforts to dismantle hard-won civil and human rights protections.
Strengthen CCR's work alongside Southern communities and partners confronting state, corporate, and environmental harms.
Build the infrastructure needed to show up consistently, not only during moments of crisis.
“We are dedicated to highlighting the people and ideas that make positive change; to increase their contributions to our society and the world. We hold ourselves deeply accountable to our clients and the communities and movements that we serve.”
When communities come under attack, waiting is not an option.
Authoritarian movements thrive when institutions respond too slowly. CCR has spent decades stepping into moments of crisis — often before others are willing or able to act.
The Emergent Fund provides flexible resources that allow CCR to respond rapidly when communities, activists, journalists, immigrants, students, and social movements face sudden threats. It gives CCR the ability to move at the speed the moment demands.
Launch legal action quickly when government abuses, repression, or emergency threats arise.
Support partners and communities facing immediate attacks on organizing, protest, and dissent.
Deploy staff, expertise, and resources before a crisis hardens into lasting harm.
Allow CCR to act when restricted or delayed funding would otherwise slow the response.
The hardest fights require long-term strength.
For nearly six decades, CCR has taken on cases that others considered too controversial, too difficult, or too politically risky. Our independence is one of our greatest strengths.
Growing the endowment ensures that CCR can continue pursuing transformative litigation and movement partnerships regardless of political shifts, economic uncertainty, or changing funding environments.
Protect CCR's ability to pursue difficult, unpopular, and precedent-setting fights.
Provide the financial foundation required for long-term litigation and advocacy.
Ensure CCR can remain in the fight even when the political climate becomes most dangerous.
Turn today's generosity into lasting protection for future generations of justice work.
“Whatever the political landscape may be in the future, we have decades of work ahead of us repairing the harm done to our people, our fundamental democratic systems, and our reputation as a nation which strives to respect human rights.”
The future of justice depends on the people who will carry the work forward.
Legendary human rights lawyer and CCR President Emeritus Michael Ratner believed deeply in developing lawyers committed to social movements, international human rights, and accountability to communities.
This fellowship honors that legacy by supporting attorneys who combine legal excellence with political courage. Through mentorship, training, and direct engagement with CCR's work, fellows gain the tools necessary to confront injustice throughout their careers.
Train attorneys grounded in accountability to clients, communities, and social movements.
Connect emerging legal talent to CCR's decades of bold litigation and advocacy experience.
Ensure CCR's values and strategy are carried forward by future generations.
Develop lawyers ready to take on fights others are unwilling to touch.
Michael Ratner's legacy lives on through the lawyers who will carry the struggle forward.
The Fellowship ensures that CCR's tradition of fearless, movement-centered lawyering continues for generations to come.
The fights ahead require a stronger foundation.
CCR's New York headquarters is a vital hub for movement lawyering, organizing, collaboration, and community.
The Capital Project will safeguard and modernize CCR's physical infrastructure with secure, collaborative, accessible spaces for staff, partners, and movement work. As attacks against civil society organizations increase, a secure and sustainable home becomes more important than ever.
Protect staff, partners, and community members in a climate of escalating attacks on civil society.
Improve the ability of people and partners to gather, collaborate, and participate fully.
Create space for strategy, legal work, organizing, and cross-movement connection.
Strengthen the operational infrastructure CCR needs for the next generation of fights.
The Justice Takes a Fight Campaign is guided by leaders, partners, donors, and movement allies who understand the urgency of this moment and the power of CCR's 60-year legacy.
Vince Warren is the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and an internationally renowned expert on racial injustice and discriminatory policing. Over his 20 years leading CCR, he has overseen the organization's groundbreaking litigation and advocacy work using domestic and international law to challenge human rights abuses, including racial, gender, and LGBTQIA+ injustices.
Katherine Franke is a professor emeritus at Columbia University, and is a leading legal scholar whose work focuses on law, race, religion, gender, and sexuality. She chaired the board of the Center for Constitutional Rights, and now chairs the board of Palestine Legal.
Angela Y. Davis is a distinguished professor emerita, author, scholar, and internationally recognized activist whose work has challenged oppression in the United States and abroad. She is a founding member of Critical Resistance and remains a powerful voice for prison abolition, racial justice, feminism, and liberation movements.
Every gift helps complete the campaign and strengthen CCR for the fights ahead. You can participate in the way that is most meaningful and practical for you.
Support CCR's 60th Anniversary events and learn more about sponsorship levels, recognition opportunities, and ways to partner with CCR during this historic year.
View Sponsorship Opportunities →
Stretch your impact by committing support over several years.
Recommend a grant to CCR through your DAF and help power the public phase.
Give Through Your DAF →
Join the Thelma Newman Planned Giving Society and make CCR part of your legacy.
Join UsWith more than $17 million already committed, we are approaching the culmination of a historic campaign to strengthen the Center for Constitutional Rights for the fights ahead. Your support will help expand CCR South, invest in the Emergent Fund, grow our Endowment, sustain the Michael Ratner Next Generation Fellowship Program, and ensure that our New York headquarters continues to serve as a vital home for movement partners, organizers, and advocates.
As we celebrate 60 years of impact, we invite you to invest in the future of this work so that CCR can remain responsive and fearless in the pursuit of justice for generations to come.
Questions about making a campaign gift or exploring other ways to support the Justice Takes a Fight Campaign? Please contact CCR's Development Team at [email protected].
