By NAN
Photos: Fearless Fund
NEW YORK, NY (June 3, 2024) – Rev. Al Sharpton, President and Founder of the National Action Network (NAN), Monday issued the following statement in response to the decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to uphold the injunction against the Fearless Fund and Fearless Foundation that has prevented the organizations from carrying out their missions since last August.
“Today’s decision is yet another nail in the coffin for DEI. Though this decision is simply outrageous, the fight is far from over. When I stood outside the courthouse in Atlanta with the Fearless Fund last year and have since led a campaign to protect DEI, I reminded everyone that there would be victories and losses in this battle, but we must keep up the fight. Because from the moment Edward Blum launched his deceitful crusade against workplace diversity, the deck has been stacked against the Fearless Fund. An organization built to help fix the enormous disparity in venture capital funding for women of color-owned businesses is seeing its mission be dismantled under the guise of fairness and equality.
Right now, we should be gearing up to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Summer and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Instead, we are witnessing right-wing litigants and judges butcher the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. The National Action Network continues to stand with the Fearless Fund, the Fearless Foundation, and all the women of color entrepreneurs who have been given an opportunity to succeed because of their investments. It’s time we show the nation that for every single Ed Blum or Stephen Miller, there are thousands who believe in DEI.”
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender.
For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.