Civil Rights Advocates Letter to Business Leaders

Civil Rights, Voting Rights Resources 05.28.26

A PDF copy of the letter is available here. 

May 28, 2026

Dear Corporate America,

For 76 years, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has served as the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition. Throughout our history, we have valued the partnership of companies and business leaders that have stood alongside civil rights organizations in support of multiracial democracy, equal opportunity, and fair representation.

Today, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the 52 additional undersigned organizations urge your company to respond in the affirmative to the Congressional Black Caucus’ letter dated May 26, 2026, to publicly affirm your commitment to voting rights and equal representation by the requested deadline. We ask companies across the business community to support the following actions:

  • Issue an individual or joint public statement condemning efforts to dilute the voting strength of communities of color by dismantling the protections of the Voting Rights Act;
  • Accept the invitation to participate in a national convening alongside Congressional Black Caucus members, civil rights leaders, advocates, and movement organizations to discuss the urgent defense of voting rights and the collective political power of the communities we represent; and
  • Report on corporate political spending, contributions, and relationships connected to elected officials, organizations, and efforts advancing discriminatory redistricting schemes or attacks on voting rights.

At a time of continued attacks on multiracial democracy, the many constituencies we serve are looking for principled leadership. Over the years, we have seen that leadership. We urge companies to once again stand in support of multiracial democracy where every voice and every vote counts.

Sincerely,

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Philip Randolph Institute
AFL-CIO
AFSCME
AFT
All Voting is Local
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Atheists
Andrew Goodman Foundation
Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Community Change
Defend the Vote Action Fund
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc
DemCast USA
Dubois Bunche Center for Public Policy
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC)
End Citizens United
Equal Rights Advocates
Everybody Votes Campaign
Feminist Majority Foundation
Freedom From Religion Foundation
Japanese American Citizens League
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Legal Defense Fund
Matthew Shepard Foundation
NAACP
National Action Network
National Association of Social Workers
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD)
National Council of Churches
National Education Association
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Health Law Program
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women’s Law Center Action Fund
NCNW
OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates
People For the American Way
Public Citizen
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Sojourners
Southern Poverty Law Center
UnidosUS
United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry
Voices for Progress
Vote.org
YWCA USA