The 14th Amendment Center
@the14thcenter.bsky.social
Located at Howard University School of Law, the 14th Amendment Center on Law and Democracy is a multi-disciplinary institute dedicated to exploring the transformative impact of the 14th Amendment on American democracy.
Today we honor Frederick Douglass — abolitionist, orator, and one of the most important constitutional thinkers of the 19th century. Douglass believed that the struggle for freedom was ultimately a struggle over citizenship: Who belongs? Who is protected? Who has power?
February 13, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Today we honor Frederick Douglass — abolitionist, orator, and one of the most important constitutional thinkers of the 19th century. Douglass believed that the struggle for freedom was ultimately a struggle over citizenship: Who belongs? Who is protected? Who has power?
Reposted by The 14th Amendment Center
BREAKING: Judge Cobb has barred DHS from preventing members of Congress from visiting immigration detention facilities without notice, saying the administration's policy likely violated the law requiring their unfettered access. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 2, 2026 at 4:56 PM
BREAKING: Judge Cobb has barred DHS from preventing members of Congress from visiting immigration detention facilities without notice, saying the administration's policy likely violated the law requiring their unfettered access. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Week 1 - Black History Month 2026
1. You may have seen this image of Black men voting during Reconstruction, and assumed it is a depiction of voting after the passage of the 15th Amendment (which outlaws denying the right to vote based on race).
1. You may have seen this image of Black men voting during Reconstruction, and assumed it is a depiction of voting after the passage of the 15th Amendment (which outlaws denying the right to vote based on race).
February 1, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Week 1 - Black History Month 2026
1. You may have seen this image of Black men voting during Reconstruction, and assumed it is a depiction of voting after the passage of the 15th Amendment (which outlaws denying the right to vote based on race).
1. You may have seen this image of Black men voting during Reconstruction, and assumed it is a depiction of voting after the passage of the 15th Amendment (which outlaws denying the right to vote based on race).
It’s Black History Month 2026. All month we’ll be featuring stories from Reconstruction and about the 14th Amendment that are not widely known. We must know our history.
February 1, 2026 at 7:13 PM
It’s Black History Month 2026. All month we’ll be featuring stories from Reconstruction and about the 14th Amendment that are not widely known. We must know our history.
A groundbreaking decision this week from a federal district court in Virginia enjoining enforcement of the state’s lifetime ban on voting for citizens convicted of felonies,on the grounds that the law conflicts w/the conditions imposed by the 1870 Congressional statute readmitting VA to the Union!
January 25, 2026 at 11:13 PM
A groundbreaking decision this week from a federal district court in Virginia enjoining enforcement of the state’s lifetime ban on voting for citizens convicted of felonies,on the grounds that the law conflicts w/the conditions imposed by the 1870 Congressional statute readmitting VA to the Union!
Reposted by The 14th Amendment Center
“In the long run it is safest for a nation, a political party, or an individual man to dare to do right, & let consequences take care of themselves, for he that loses his life for truth’s sake, shall find it.”
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
January 3, 2026 at 3:26 AM
“In the long run it is safest for a nation, a political party, or an individual man to dare to do right, & let consequences take care of themselves, for he that loses his life for truth’s sake, shall find it.”
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
I quite liked the Netflix series “Death By Lightning” about the assassination of President Garfield. I wish they’d included more about his bold abolitionist work, and defense of the Civil Rights Act on the floor of the U.S. House. He wasn’t an accidental orator as the script implied.
“In the long run it is safest for a nation, a political party, or an individual man to dare to do right, & let consequences take care of themselves, for he that loses his life for truth’s sake, shall find it.”
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
January 3, 2026 at 7:36 PM
I quite liked the Netflix series “Death By Lightning” about the assassination of President Garfield. I wish they’d included more about his bold abolitionist work, and defense of the Civil Rights Act on the floor of the U.S. House. He wasn’t an accidental orator as the script implied.
William Martin’s work powerfully demonstrated the critical importance of courage, a commitment to truth-telling, and professionalism in historical museum work. I wish he could be with us for the 250th.
Rest in Peace William “Bill” Martin.
wapo.st/49gfecL
Rest in Peace William “Bill” Martin.
wapo.st/49gfecL
He exposed myth of the South’s ‘Lost Cause.’ His death shook Richmond.
William “Bill” Martin, 71, died Sunday, Dec. 28, a day after being struck by a car near the Valentine local history museum where he had served as director more than 30 years.
wapo.st
January 3, 2026 at 7:31 PM
William Martin’s work powerfully demonstrated the critical importance of courage, a commitment to truth-telling, and professionalism in historical museum work. I wish he could be with us for the 250th.
Rest in Peace William “Bill” Martin.
wapo.st/49gfecL
Rest in Peace William “Bill” Martin.
wapo.st/49gfecL
“In the long run it is safest for a nation, a political party, or an individual man to dare to do right, & let consequences take care of themselves, for he that loses his life for truth’s sake, shall find it.”
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
January 3, 2026 at 3:26 AM
“In the long run it is safest for a nation, a political party, or an individual man to dare to do right, & let consequences take care of themselves, for he that loses his life for truth’s sake, shall find it.”
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
-Rep.(later President) James Garfield in defense of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
Reposted by The 14th Amendment Center
Immigrant Founding Fathers: Key leaders like Alexander Hamilton (born in Nevis), Robert Morris (born in Liverpool, England), and some Signers of the Declaration or Constitution, such as James Wilson (Scotland), William Paterson (Ireland), and Stephen Moylan (Ireland), were foreign-born.
December 7, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Immigrant Founding Fathers: Key leaders like Alexander Hamilton (born in Nevis), Robert Morris (born in Liverpool, England), and some Signers of the Declaration or Constitution, such as James Wilson (Scotland), William Paterson (Ireland), and Stephen Moylan (Ireland), were foreign-born.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear a challenge to birthright citizenship is a direct test of one of the 14th Amendment’s core guarantees. Section 1 is unambiguous and it has been for more than 150 years. Birthright citizenship is not a policy. Not a preference. Not a debate.It’s the Constitution.
December 6, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear a challenge to birthright citizenship is a direct test of one of the 14th Amendment’s core guarantees. Section 1 is unambiguous and it has been for more than 150 years. Birthright citizenship is not a policy. Not a preference. Not a debate.It’s the Constitution.
Supreme Court Agrees to Review Trump Order Restricting Birthright Citizenship
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM
It’s Thanksgiving Day. Did you know that it was President Lincoln who created this holiday to celebrate the resilience of the American people and the commitment to freedom during the Civil War? Listen to one of our favorite historians @hcrichardson.bsky.social on the Civil War origins of this day.
November 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It’s Thanksgiving Day. Did you know that it was President Lincoln who created this holiday to celebrate the resilience of the American people and the commitment to freedom during the Civil War? Listen to one of our favorite historians @hcrichardson.bsky.social on the Civil War origins of this day.
Reposted by The 14th Amendment Center
#OnThisDay in 1866, a peaceful Black voting rights convention in New Orleans was brutally massacred by a white mob. Nearly 50 people were killed. This tragedy fueled the fight for the 14th Amendment.
July 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
#OnThisDay in 1866, a peaceful Black voting rights convention in New Orleans was brutally massacred by a white mob. Nearly 50 people were killed. This tragedy fueled the fight for the 14th Amendment.
Reposted by The 14th Amendment Center
Back in the 1960s, the Smothers Brothers made fun of President Lyndon Johnson and his policies many times on their popular television show. The president wrote them a letter in response.
October 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Back in the 1960s, the Smothers Brothers made fun of President Lyndon Johnson and his policies many times on their popular television show. The president wrote them a letter in response.
Reposted by The 14th Amendment Center
Historians Don't Think a US Civil War Is Likely—but They're Still Nervous.
“The fabric of what binds America together at this point is basically on its final thread,” www.wired.com/story/path-t...
“The fabric of what binds America together at this point is basically on its final thread,” www.wired.com/story/path-t...
Historians Don't Think a US Civil War Is Likely—but They're Still Nervous
“The fabric of what binds America together at this point is basically on its final thread,” one source tells WIRED.
www.wired.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Historians Don't Think a US Civil War Is Likely—but They're Still Nervous.
“The fabric of what binds America together at this point is basically on its final thread,” www.wired.com/story/path-t...
“The fabric of what binds America together at this point is basically on its final thread,” www.wired.com/story/path-t...
Fascinating new exhibit in Los Angeles deepens the conversation about Confederate monuments.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
A Daring Show Remixes the Monuments of the Confederacy
As the Trump Administration tries to rescue symbols of the Lost Cause, an exhibition in Los Angeles, led by Kara Walker, finds meaning in their desecration.
www.newyorker.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Fascinating new exhibit in Los Angeles deepens the conversation about Confederate monuments.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
This week’s SCOTUS argument focused on whether remedies under Section 2 of the VRA violate the 15th Amendment. But in this issue of The Refounding, I wrote about how remedying racial gerrymandering under Sec 2 is also consistent w/the aims of Section 2 of the 14th Amend. medium.com/@TheRefoundi...
A Tale of Two Section Twos
The Protection Against Racial Gerrymandering in Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is Constitutional. Just Read Section 2 of the 14th…
medium.com
October 19, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This week’s SCOTUS argument focused on whether remedies under Section 2 of the VRA violate the 15th Amendment. But in this issue of The Refounding, I wrote about how remedying racial gerrymandering under Sec 2 is also consistent w/the aims of Section 2 of the 14th Amend. medium.com/@TheRefoundi...
LISTEN: @legaldefensefund.bsky.social President & Director-Counsel
@janainelson.bsky.social responds to Justice Kagan’s question asking what would be the result if the Court adopted Louisiana’s view about Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“It would be catastrophic.”
@janainelson.bsky.social responds to Justice Kagan’s question asking what would be the result if the Court adopted Louisiana’s view about Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“It would be catastrophic.”
October 15, 2025 at 6:16 PM
LISTEN: @legaldefensefund.bsky.social President & Director-Counsel
@janainelson.bsky.social responds to Justice Kagan’s question asking what would be the result if the Court adopted Louisiana’s view about Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“It would be catastrophic.”
@janainelson.bsky.social responds to Justice Kagan’s question asking what would be the result if the Court adopted Louisiana’s view about Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“It would be catastrophic.”
