SPLC and GBEF stand ready to oppose ideological “lawfare” against local nonprofit
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Today, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) will appear in federal court on behalf of The Women Foundation and The Women LLC in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER).
The Women Foundation was created to empower and support economically disadvantaged businesses in Knoxville, Tennessee, by providing access to capital. Through the foundation’s community fund, small businesses are invited once a year in the fall to apply for zero-interest microloans. The lawsuit brought by the AAER perversely alleges this interest-free loan program is discriminatory against white people in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
“The SPLC is honored to stand with The Women Foundation and defend this important community partner whose mission is to fight poverty by helping to grow small businesses in Knoxville,” said Scott McCoy, deputy legal director of the SPLC. “This lawsuit has no merit and perverts the federal civil rights laws in a way never intended. We will vigorously oppose this ideological litigation.”
“The freedom to give and invest is central to our Constitution and democracy. When that freedom is threatened, so too is the ability of people and institutions to direct resources that drive opportunity for all,” said Alphonso David, president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum. “The Global Black Economic Forum is proud to join a dynamic legal team that will zealously advocate to protect the agency of individuals and organizations to exercise their constitutional right to give, associate, and invest in the causes they believe in.”
Together, the SPLC and GBEF stand ready to oppose the ideological “lawfare” threatening The Women Foundation’s anti-poverty microloan program and the constitutional right to invest in community opportunity.
“We remain confident in our mission and are grateful for the partnership of the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Global Black Economic Forum as we navigate this process,” said Deidra Harper, co-founder and executive director of The Women Foundation. “The Women was built on service, accountability, and community trust, all principles that do not waver under pressure. We know who we are, and we stand firmly in that truth.”
“This moment is bigger than one lawsuit. It’s about closing real gaps and ensuring that communities have the tools and support to grow stronger. With the SPLC and GBEF beside us, we remain committed and resolved to keep building pathways for others to rise,” said Tanika Harper, co-founder and executive director of The Women Foundation.
Since its inception in 2020, The Women Foundation has strengthened small businesses and supported local entrepreneurs through microloans, mentorship and by providing practical resources designed to help emerging enterprises glow, stabilize and contribute to their region’s economic vitality. For more information regarding the foundation’s impact on the Knoxville community, please visit thewomenofknoxville.org.
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About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.