named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Law Enforcement Accountability Project (LEAP)
Initiative focused on addressing police misconduct and holding law enforcement accountable through legal action and public education.
NCBL Regional Chapters
State and local chapters across the U.S. including Detroit, New York, North Carolina, and Washington DC that engage in local advocacy, litigation, and community forums.
People's Law School
Community education program that teaches various areas of law to empower local communities, particularly in Detroit.
Reparations Research Project
Research and advocacy initiative aimed at advancing the movement for reparations for historical injustices including slavery and systemic discrimination.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 4 activities
- Advance indigenous and educational rights through legal advocacyCurrently engaged in legal advocacy to protect indigenous land rights, resist unjust criminal prosecutions, and secure quality education for Black and marginalized children.
- Conduct international solidarity workEngages in advocacy and solidarity efforts in support of progressive movements in Northern Ireland, Palestine, Cuba, Nicaragua, Guyana, Grenada, and Southern Africa.
- Provide legal representation to civil rights and political activistsProvides legal defense and representation to high-profile civil rights activists and political defendants, including Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, the Attica Brothers, Geronimo Pratt, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Ben Chavis, and the Wilmington Ten. Continues to engage in legal advocacy for marginalized individuals facing unjust prosecutions.
- Support affirmative action and challenge discriminatory policies through litigationEngages in civil rights litigation, including legal advocacy during the Bakke case and challenges to the Michigan Constitutional Amendment abolishing affirmative action and the abolition of Detroit's Recorder's Court.
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 2 activities
- Organize legal education and community forumsOrganizes forums on the prison industrial complex, police brutality, reparations, Haiti, the death penalty, and political prisoners. Conducts legal education workshops in prisons and communities through the People's Law School.
- Provide legal and advocacy support for political prisonersOffers legal defense and public advocacy for political prisoners, including Rev. Ben Chavis, the Wilmington 10, Geronimo Pratt, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and Ahmed Rahman.
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Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 1 activity
- Advocate against apartheid in South AfricaConducted sustained advocacy, lobbying, and public campaigns against apartheid in South Africa, among the first U.S. organizations to do so consistently.
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Legal Education and Career Pipeline Programs 1 activity
- Engage African American law students and lawyersConducts outreach to African American law students and lawyers to expand participation and strengthen the organization’s network.
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Legal Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
- Host annual national conferences and general meetingsOrganizes and hosts annual national conferences, including events at North Carolina Central School of Law in 2024 and planned gatherings in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2025, along with regular general body meetings and programs such as the Legal Observer Program.
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Regional Chapter Network Support 1 activity
- Operate regional chapters to support legal and advocacy workOperates active chapters in Detroit, New York, North Carolina, Washington DC, and Georgia to support national legal, advocacy, and educational initiatives.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Train lawyers in civil rights litigation and trial advocacySponsors training workshops for lawyers focused on police misconduct litigation and trial advocacy to build professional capacity within the legal community.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Document organizational history and founding membersLaunched the NCBL Educational Project to research and document the history and backgrounds of founding members.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$76K
Contributions & grants$78K103%
Program service revenue$3000%
Investment income——
Other revenue$4
expenses
Total expenses$102K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$38K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$15K
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +7.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- AMANDI JONES — BOARD MEMBER
- AMOS R UMI — BOARD MEMBER
- FLORENCE MORGAN — BOARD MEMBER
- JASMINE MARCHBANKS — BOARD MEMBER
- JEFFREY EDISON — BOARD MEMBER
- JENIFER JONES — BOARD MEMBER
- MIGUEL L DOMINGUEZ — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Ahmed Rahman Partner — Championed the cause of Ahmed Rahman as part of its political prisoner advocacy.
- Angela Davis Partner — Represented Angela Davis as one of its early high-profile clients.
- Angela Davis Partner — Represented as a client in legal advocacy efforts.
- Assata Shakur Partner — Provided legal defense for Assata Shakur.
- Assata Shakur Partner — Represented as a client in legal advocacy efforts.
- Attica Brothers Partner — Provided legal representation and advocacy for the Attica Brothers following the 1971 Attica Prison uprising.
- Attica Brothers Partner — Represented in legal advocacy efforts.
- Ben Chavis Partner — Represented as a client in legal advocacy efforts.
- Facebook Partner — Official presence on Facebook platform
- Georgetown Law School Network — Ande Durojaiye, a graduate of Georgetown Law School, contributed research to the NCBL Educational Project.
- Geronimo Pratt Partner — Advocated on behalf of Geronimo Pratt as a political prisoner.
- Geronimo Pratt Partner — Represented as a client in legal advocacy efforts.
- Movement for Black Liberation Coalition — NCBL identifies as the legal arm of the Movement for Black Liberation, indicating a formal or functional coalition relationship.
- Mumia Abu Jamal Partner — Supported the legal defense and advocacy campaign for Mumia Abu Jamal.
- Mumia Abu-Jamal Partner — Represented as a client in legal advocacy efforts.
- NCBL Detroit Network — Regional chapter of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
- NCBL Georgia Chapter Partner — Local chapter organizing and hosting the national conference.
- NCBL New York Network — Regional chapter of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
- NCBL North Carolina Network — Regional chapter of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
- NCBL Washington DC Network — Regional chapter of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
- North Carolina Central School of Law Partner — Hosted the NCBL Annual National Conference in collaboration with the NCBL North Carolina Chapter.
- Rev. Ben Chavis Partner — Championed the legal cause of Rev. Ben Chavis as part of its political prisoner defense work.
- Wayne State University Law School Partner — Hosted the founding of the Michigan Chapter in 1975.
- Wilmington 10 Partner — Provided legal and advocacy support to the Wilmington 10 during their prosecution.
- Wilmington Ten Partner — Provided legal support and representation to the Wilmington Ten in their legal defense.
- Wilmington Ten Partner — Represented in legal advocacy efforts.
- YouTube Partner — Hosts video content through official YouTube channel
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collective Strategy Development Through Lived Experiencemethodology: collective_strategizingBy bringing together legal professionals, activists, and community members to share lived experiences and diverse perspectives, we develop more effective justice strategies, because collective insight produces deeper understanding and more responsive legal interventions.
- Legal Advocacy as a Tool Against Systemic Racismmethodology: law_as_a_tool_against_racismBy using legal advocacy and judicial mechanisms, we combat systemic racism and advance racial justice, because the law can be leveraged to dismantle institutional inequities and protect the rights of Black communities.
- Movement Lawyering for Black Liberationmethodology: movement_lawyeringBy positioning Black lawyers as the legal arm of the Black Liberation movement, we strengthen grassroots resistance and advance self-determination, because legal work is most effective when directly aligned with social justice movements and collective political goals.
- Organizing Black Attorneys for Collective Powermethodology: attorney_organizingBy organizing Black attorneys into a coordinated network, we amplify their impact in advancing racial justice, because collective professional action produces greater systemic change than isolated legal efforts.
- Transnational Solidarity Through Legal Advocacymethodology: transnational_solidarityBy extending legal and advocacy support to global movements facing racial and political oppression, we strengthen local struggles, because international solidarity reinforces the legitimacy and resilience of Black liberation efforts.