The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.
CCR uses litigation proactively to advance the law in a positive direction, to empower poor communities and communities of color, to guarantee the rights of those with the fewest protections and least access to legal resources, to train the next generation of constitutional and human rights attorneys, and to strengthen the broader movement for constitutional and human rights. Their work began on behalf of civil rights activists, and over the last four decades CCR has lent its expertise and support to virtually every popular movement for social justice.
Since their founding, CCR has provided legal skills in a unique and effective manner and always with a progressive perspective. They use daring and innovative legal strategies which have produced many important precedents. CCR is often “ahead of the curve” in both identifying a problem and in suggesting novel or radical legal responses which, over time, become accepted and respected precedents and theories.
CCR accepts cases and projects based on principle and the value of the struggle itself, not solely by using a calculus of victory. There are cases which CCR has worked on tenaciously for decades before success was achieved, yet they stood by the cause and the client. They will continue to take these types of cases because justice demands it.
Movement Support is a crucial element of CCR's education and outreach work. Its primary function is to complement CCR’s legal work by linking the Center to various movements, projects and initiatives. CCR engages in movement support in order to: facilitate networking and the regular flow of communication and information between progressive organizations, agencies and constituencies; strategically undertake collaborative efforts around issues, campaigns and initiatives and facilitate the exchange of information between organizations and agencies about issues. CCR's movement support is comprised both of assisting grassroots allies and participating in coalitions.