Header text in dark red reading 'OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS, CLDC HAS DEFENDED AND ADVOCATED FOR ACTIVISTS AND MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY' with the Civil Liberties Defense Center logo (a black bird on a skateboard) in the top right corner.

First, they watch you. Then they arrest and charge you – conspiracy and racketeering laws meant for organized crime applied to forest defenders. Terrorism statutes twisted to criminalize pro-choice activists. Federal agencies demand your private data, with massive tech corporations more than willing to hand it over. Local governments weaponizing lawsuits against harm reduction workers. The message is clear: dissent is under attack in unprecedented ways.

We’ve been saying it for years: fascism and state repression are on the rise. But what do we do when dissent is under attack? We stand up and fight back! To do anything less would be to submit to this authoritarian regime and embolden their assault on constitutional rights, democratic freedoms, and protections for people and the planet. Taking to the streets and standing up to this petty tyrant and his sycophants requires strategy and experienced movement lawyers who will defend you if you end up in the courts. And we’ve got your back.

When everyone feels like a target of the federal government, CLDC continues to stand up and defend those who are most at risk. We are experienced and tested movement lawyers who understand that every case may be a battle for liberation, the survival of the planet, and all who live upon it. Since the presidential election, we have experienced a surge in requests for legal support and trainings: the State is expanding its target list and adding violent military responses every day, so we’re armoring up with every legal tool we have. Now, we ask you to help us increase our capacity to add more movement lawyers to our team to support people and movements most at risk nationwide.

Over the past 23 years, CLDC has defended and advocated for activists and movements across the country. Here are some of our most critical case updates from 2025:

Who Quashes ICE? We Do.
In September, we filed a “motion to quash” an ICE subpoena to Meta (Facebook/Instagram) that demanded activist information, and just a few days later, the judge signed an order preventing Meta from turning it over. This “administrative subpoena” represents a blatant attempt to chill free speech critical of the government by an agency acting wildly outside its authority. Challenging this kind of governmental overreach and defending the Constitution are of critical importance in this moment.

Stop Cop City: Defeating Political Abuse of the Legal System
Also in September, we celebrated a monumental victory when RICO (“racketeering”) charges against 61 forest defenders in Atlanta were dismissed by the Court (the State has filed an appeal). This victory isn’t just about Atlanta – we stopped a lawfare tactic that would have been attempted around the country to chill and undermine organized resistance nationwide. We are celebrating this win with our clients and colleagues for now, knowing we’ve got more motions and constitutional challenges coming!

Stabbin’ Wagon Pokes Back at Medford
September was busy! CLDC represents Stabbin’ Wagon, a harm reduction nonprofit that provides HIV tests, needle exchange, and resources for the unhoused. With our co-counsel, a Portland small-firm attorney, we filed a lawsuit for the organization and two of its former employees against the City of Medford, Oregon, for interfering with grants, harassment, and unlawful surveillance. City officials violated First Amendment rights by targeting the organization for its harm reduction public health work and criticism of law enforcement practices. With this case, we hope to shine a light on how government power can be abused to silence dissent and punish advocacy for vulnerable populations.

SLAPP Defense: Winning Against Right-Wing Lawfare
Earlier this year, we proved that solidarity can't be sued into silence when we secured a major victory in federal court in Illinois. The judge dismissed frivolous SLAPP claims (“Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation”) against our client, a Palestinian rights organization. We’re currently defending another SLAPP suit filed by white nationalist Patriot Front members in federal court in Washington state, who claim harm from being called out for being white supremacists. Our motion to dismiss this case asserts what should be obvious: the First Amendment protects the right to expose fascists who threaten communities and democracy.

A15 Action: Defending Palestinian Solidarity
In early 2025 we wrapped up a long series of trials, defending 20 activists (out of 65 arrested) who engaged in the April 15, 2024, Global Day of Action, demanding an end to U.S. complicity in genocide in Gaza. In the last two trials we litigated, a unanimous jury found our clients not guilty—the only 2 not guilty verdicts out of all of the cases! These victories affirm that taking action against U.S. support for war crimes is political speech that jurors did not believe were crimes.

Defending Reproductive Justice Warriors
As we entered 2025, CLDC successfully wrapped up defense of reproductive justice activists who spray-painted graffiti on a fake “pregnancy clinic” in Florida shortly after Roe v. Wade fell. As Planned Parenthood explains, these “CPCs” “are run by anti-abortion activists who have a shady, harmful agenda: to scare, shame, or pressure you out of getting an abortion, and to tell lies about abortion, birth control, and sexual health.” Our client faced up to ten years in federal prison, but served only one month after we settled their federal criminal and civil cases. Our client said the following:

“Having a movement lawyer changed everything…Lauren always kept her eyes on the political fight for rights to bodily autonomy and not just the criminal case we were facing.”

The Crisis of Capacity

The assault on civil liberties is unprecedented – and the calls for help are often overwhelming our small staff. Churches are reaching out to protect undocumented visitors; educational organizations are requesting trainings for BIPOC students facing increased targeting. Frontline activists and organizations facing state prosecution need legal defense and legal risk assessment support. With only three staff attorneys, we are drowning in requests. The State has unlimited resources to crush dissent. Movements have CLDC – and we need your support!

More attorneys, trainers, and legal support personnel are not luxuries – they are necessities for the survival of movements for environmental and social justice. The question is not whether we can afford to expand. The question is whether movements resisting the current regime can afford for us not to.

Will you stand up against fascism and abuse of power?

Your gift today directly funds movement lawyers, high-in-demand Know Your Rights & Risks trainings, our revamped Train the Trainer program, strategic litigation that sets national precedents, and legal support for activists and orgs facing state repression.

We can’t do this without you. Thank you for standing with us in this critical moment.

In solidarity and resistance,

CLDC Leadership Team

CLDC's 2025 End of Year Fundraising Appeal

When Everyone Feels Like a Target - CLDC Stands Up to Defend

Team Members