Recently, Judge K. Michael Moore of the U.S. District Court in Miami ruled that the City of Miami unlawfully manipulated voting districts based on race and ethnicity. As a result, he dismissed the city's voting map and criticized the methods used by city commissioners to maintain control for over 20 years.
The judge found that in Grace, Inc., et al., v. City of Miami, violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and permanently enjoined the city and its officers and agents from calling, conducting, supervising, or certifying any elections under the unconstitutional districts.
The case is just one of many projects undertaken since 1996 by the Center for Ethics and Public Service under founding director Anthony Alfieri. CEPS faculty, staff, students, and alums supported the organization and incorporation of Grace, Inc. (Grove Rights and Community Equity) in partnership with Village West Black church, civic, and nonprofit partners.
“Several generations of CEPS faculty, staff, and students worked in close collaboration with our faith- and community-based partners to lay the groundwork for the creation of a nonprofit – GRACE, Inc. – to represent a wide coalition of Village West stakeholders ranging from tenants and homeowners to civic leaders and church congregations in broad legal and political rights campaigns," said Alfieri. "New campaigns underway include fair housing, Freedom Schools, and community equity.”
GRACE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation consisting of a coalition of Coconut Grove churches, civic groups, other nonprofit organizations, small-business owners, tenants, and homeowners. Its mission is to protect vulnerable black tenants and homeowners at risk of eviction, displacement, and resegregation; restore the rights of the wrongfully displaced; preserve the community culture, and history of the West Grove and its people; and to advocate for equitable economic development.
CEPS is a law school-housed center providing ethics education, experiential skills training, and a community engagement program devoted to ethical judgment, professional responsibility, and public service in law and society. It is part of the School of Law's copious experiential learning offerings, central to its mission to prepare students for modern legal practice.
"Shoutout to Grace, Inc. its constituent churches and nonprofits, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida litigation team for this extraordinary voting rights win!" said Alfieri, a board member of Grace.
Read more about Miami Law's Center for Ethics and Public Service.
