Direct Legal Support and Technical Assistance for Local Governments

The second Trump administration poses a major threat to civil rights, signaling a clear intent to target the rights of women, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ people, and workers with low wages.

In the past, local government officials could defend their communities against these attacks without fear of retribution. But the landscape has shifted. Now, pro-civil rights officials are facing immense threats — some in their own states — and at the federal level.

If we don’t fight back against these attacks, the civil rights of millions of Americans will be at risk. In response, Public Rights Project (PRP) has launched its first-ever Civil Rights Hub to help local governments officials:

• Address threats to their funding and authority

• Fill gaps in federal enforcement and where legal protections are eliminated

• Bolster legal advocacy in state and federal courts

• Support the development and defense of pro-rights policies and practices

We will prioritize work in several issue areas, including reproductive and gender rights, economic justice and security, and immigrant rights.

Multi-city group convening of local officials to plan and coordinate work across jurisdictions.

Training, technical assistance, and legal research to help local governments strengthen local policies, challenge federal actions, and uphold rights when federal protections are lacking. Learn more about our upcoming Civil Rights Fellowship.

Legal representation in high-stakes litigation, organizing amicus brief coalitions and submitting comments on behalf of local officials to challenge harmful regulations.

Where We Work

Our focus is in the following states, but the team is available to support local government officials across all jurisdictions.

Our Past Work

Since 2017, PRP has worked with local government officials to help them leverage their power and legal tools to advance civil rights. Here are a few examples of our work.

Workers’ rights: With San Francisco and Los Angeles DAs, PRP helped recover $6+ million for workers from Handy, a gig home cleaning and maintenance company. PRP’s amicus brief outlined how the company misclassified its California workers to turn a profit.

Reproductive rights: PRP represented seven Prosecuting Attorneys in support of Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s request for the state Supreme Court to decide if the state constitution protected abortion rights. PRP argued that the Michigan Supreme Court could uphold abortion rights, as state constitutions can offer more protections than the U.S. Constitution.

Abuses of power: In 2020, PRP served as co-counsel for Portland and Oakland arguing against deployment of federal forces at protests. The lawsuit against the first Trump administration centered on preserving local governments' discretion over policing and community interactions.

Contact Us

The Civil Rights Hub’s team of staff attorneys is ready to help protect and advance the rights of 25 million Americans in 2025. If you’re a local government official in need of legal assistance or want to learn more, please reach out.