RALEIGH, NC – Today, Anita Earls, founder of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court will receive the prestigious Cecile Richards Progressive Leader Award at the 2018 America Votes State Summit. Earls will receive the award for her leadership in the fight for voting rights in North Carolina. She will be receiving the award alongside the Honorable Terry McAuliffe, 72nd Governor of Virginia.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized by America Votes for my work to ensure that every citizen has an equal right to vote,” Earls said. “Cecile Richards is a remarkable role model and leader for women nationally and to receive this award named after her is both humbling and inspiring.”
Anita Earls is one of the nation’s leading civil rights attorneys who has dedicated 30 years to defending and advancing political, social and economic rights. As the founder and director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Anita was a lead attorney in North Carolina’s landmark case against unconstitutional racial gerrymandering in legislative districts and led the challenge in the North Carolina Supreme Court to uphold the right to vote in North Carolina’s constitution.
The Cecile Richards Progressive Leaders Award was first given in 2009 to its namesake Cecile Richards, honoring not only her founding of America Votes but her consistent devotion to improving the lives of men and women with the implementation of progressive policies.
The award represents an opportunity to recognize one of our community’s foremost leaders at each edition of the America Votes State Summit. Other recipients have included EMILY’s Founder Ellen Malcolm, National Education Association Executive Director John Stocks, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, and AFSCME President Lee Saunders.
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