------ Forwarded message --------- From: Nicole Regalado, UltraViolet Action <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Apr 27, 2026 at 10:11 AM Subject: Sign the petition: Defend the Southern Poverty Law Center from the Trump administration To: John A Imani <[email protected]>
This is what retaliation looks like. [image: We are UltraViolet] <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/4930?t=2&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS> *The Trump administration just did something that should send a chill down the spine of every person who cares about protecting civil rights: it charged the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with fraud.1* John, the SPLC has spent more than 55 years tracking hate groups, defending civil rights in court, and protecting the communities most targeted by violence and discrimination, including women, immigrants, communities of color and LGBTQ+ people.2 And now, instead of going after the extremists who threaten those communities, Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is going after the organization that fights them. *This is textbook political retaliation—and we need to call it out.* *Sign the petition now to demand the Department of Justice drop all charges against the SPLC.* *SIGN NOW* <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/92372?t=9&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS> Earlier this week, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicted the SPLC on charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. The allegation? the organization secretly paid at least $3 million to informants embedded in white supremacist groups like the KKK and Aryan Nations without disclosing this to donors.3 The SPLC acknowledges running a paid informant program, but says those informants regularly shared intelligence with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies and saved lives. The organization denies any wrongdoing and says it will “vigorously defend” itself against what it calls “false” criminal charges.4 *Legal experts say this case is a massive overreach. *Federal criminal defense attorney Todd Spodek put it directly: *“This isn’t a fraud case. It is a political attack on standard investigative tradecraft.”5* University of Pittsburgh law professor Phil Hackney called it an unusual approach, noting that nonprofit fraud cases typically involve someone stealing donated money for personal gain—not an organization using donor funds to run undercover operations in service of its stated mission.6 Retired federal Judge Nancy Gertner called the indictment *“preposterous.”7* *We agree with them. Will you sign the petition now?* <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/92372?t=4&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS> *The truth is that this indictment fits squarely within the Trump administration’s pattern of using the DOJ to punish its political adversaries.8* *SPLC has long been in Trump and MAGA’s crosshairs. *FBI Director Kash Patel severed the bureau’s relationship with the SPLC last fall, calling it a “partisan smear machine” despite having no evidence to back that claim.9 Elon Musk falsely accused the SPLC of inciting the assassination of Charlie Kirk on social media.10 And a House subcommittee held hearings attacking the organization.11 If the government can use the criminal justice system to silence an organization for fighting hate groups, no civil rights organization is safe. *The goal is intimidation. The goal is to make the cost of speaking truth to power too high. We refuse to let that happen.* *Sign the petition to demand the DOJ drop these baseless charges against the SPLC—and stand up for every civil rights organization this administration has in its sights.* <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/92373?t=5&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS> The SPLC is fighting back. So are the ACLU, the NAACP, the National Urban League, and dozens of other organizations who have already spoken out in solidarity. And so are we. We are powerful together, -- Nicole and the UltraViolet Action team *Sources:* 1. Inside the S.P.L.C.’s Long, Bitter War Over What Constitutes Hate, The New York Times, April 22, 2026 2. Ibid. 3. What to know about the Trump Justice Department’s case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, CNN, April 23, 2026 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. SPLC fraud charges explained, The Guardian, April 21, 2026 7. Ibid. 8. What to know about the Trump Justice Department’s case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, CNN, April 23, 2026 9. Inside the S.P.L.C.’s Long, Bitter War Over What Constitutes Hate, The New York Times, April 22, 2026 10. Ibid. 11. Ibid. ------------------------------ *Want to support our work?* UltraViolet is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way. *Chip in here.* <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/60010?t=3&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS> Contributions to UltraViolet Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. To update your contact info, click here <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/survey/update-your-address/?t=6&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS>. If you'd prefer to receive text message updates, click here <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/ultraviolet_mobile_updates/?t=7&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS>. To unsubscribe, click here <https://act.weareultraviolet.org/cms/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/?t=8&akid=60343%2E1175673%2EPgaLvS>. -- JAI -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. 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