This moment demands courage from us all. Your support doesn’t just fund our work—it empowers and strengthens us all. Will you stand with us in this fight?
AWAKEN the RESISTANCE
Spring APPEAL

CLDC has long been a trusted ally to activists across the nation. We’ve seen the rise and fall of movements and the continuation of state repression, through various iterations and stages. It is undoubtably a scary time for those of us who speak up for the rights of our most oppressed community members. However, we know that in times when we feel the most afraid, our solidarity and action must grow stronger.

“For over 25 years, I’ve defended environmental and social justice activists in some of the most serious cases of our time — including during past waves of state repression. Silencing dissent is always the goal of those who abuse power, which is why it’s critical to stay sharp, effective, and unyielding.

Lawyers like me now stand on the front lines, facing real consequences for doing our jobs. But we do so knowingly, and we won’t back down. We’ll win — in court, in public, and in the history books.”

                   ~ Lauren Regan, CLDC Director of Litigation & Advocacy

The Resistance Awakens

Our communities are awakening and mobilizing. We at CLDC found it very encouraging to see millions of people activated and moving in the streets during the last few nationwide protests; now it’s time to double down. This moment requires that engaged citizens and our sharpest strategists come together to develop concrete action plans. We need clear, achievable goals that offer an inspirational alternative to the Trump administration’s policies.

 2025: Our Relentless Momentum Unleashed

Our momentum isn’t just building, it’s exploding. Our Know Your Rights & Risks (KYRR) trainings are drawing hundreds of registrants, both in person and virtually. We know that this surge isn’t a fleeting spike—it’s the new baseline. Just three months into 2025, all indicators point to even greater momentum-building as we move forward. The people are awakening, mobilizing, and seeking out the expert legal education and resources CLDC provides. With this kind of explosive start, 2025 isn’t just a promising year, it’s the breakthrough moment we’ve been building toward.

Smashing Our Goals

We promised growth, and we’ve delivered. After an exhaustive search for extraordinary talent who share our vision, we’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our legal team with a new movement attorney. This addition strengthens our ability to defend those targeted for fighting for a better world, advocate for human rights for our political prisoners, and litigate federal civil rights cases against the government to maintain fundamental legal protections. To support our lawyers, we’ve also welcomed a legal worker and a bilingual organizer who bring fresh energy and increased capacity to our work. This expansion comes at a crucial time when frontline communities—those willing to risk their liberty for issues affecting us all—face growing threats to their environmental safety, health, and rights while bearing the heaviest burden of social and environmental injustices.

Failure Is Not an Option

This team doesn’t know the definition of “failure.” Success for CLDC looks like frontline activists and communities not simply surviving repression, but thriving, by equipping movements to defend themselves—legally, strategically, and collectively—so that seemingly all-powerful oligarchs can’t silence us through intimidation or legal attacks. Success means creating a movement where no one faces state targeting or prosecution alone, where every protester, civil rights advocate, land and water defender, and community organizer knows their rights and fights to uphold them. We’re building communities armed with the legal tools, resources, and solidarity needed to take bold action for environmental and social justice—and win.

We see your outrage. We hear your concerns. We feel your fears. This moment demands courage from us all. Your support doesn’t just fund our work—it empowers and strengthens us all. Will you stand with us in this fight?