Indictment of New York attorney general Letitia James stirs concerns for Black women leaders

The coalition of New York NAACP chapters had just begun its annual state convention when Letitia James, a longtime member and the state's attorney general, canceled her appearance.

- by Matt Brown Associated Press

The Justice Department had just indicted James for alleged mortgage fraud, a charge which she called “baseless” and “‘a grave violation of our constitutional order.”

For the New York convention’s organizers, the moment was alarming. It underscored the gathering’s importance, which featured multiple sessions on building political power at the state level in response to what NAACP leaders called federal attacks on social welfare, civil rights, and the rule of law.

“It was through our collective action that a democracy was built,” said NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams. “What we have to do is not only defend against what is happening now, but we have to push further past where we were before, to build a system to build a better American democracy that we all deserve.”

The indictment of James, who had previously prosecuted the Trump Organization for business fraud, immediately sparked debate over whether the justice system had been politicized for President Donald Trump’s personal grievances. It also drew many parallels with Trump’s recent effort to remove a Federal Reserve Board governor, Lisa Cook, from her post over similar allegations.

Claims against James and Cook carry symbolic weight

Advocates see some of Trump’s recent moves as exceptionally targeted at Black women leaders.

“This is something that we’ve been grappling with since the start of this administration,” said Shavon Arline-Bradley, President and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women, the country’s oldest civil rights organization for Black women.