Thank you to CBS 4's @jimdefede.bsky.social for highlighting @fji.law's latest case with our @splcenter.org colleagues on behalf of @disabilityrightsfl.bsky.social.

Lawsuit accuses Florida of violating rights of defendants with mental illness held in jail without treatment

A lawsuit filed in Miami accuses Florida of illegally leaving defendants with serious mental illness in county jails for months while they wait for court-ordered treatment.

cbsnews.com

Since 1978, @fji.law's impact spanned the entire state of #Florida. FJI is seeking board members statewide to help the organization expand its reach and increase its effectiveness for the clients and communities FJI serves. Join us for a board match on 10/27! go.instituteforpeople.com/board-match

On this day in 1963, a bomb at 16th Street Baptist Church killed 4 girls: Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, and Cynthia Wesley. We honor them by fighting on — for the vote, a fair count, & the liberty and justice for all this country promised.

🧵 (1/2) ICYMI: Homelessness nationwide is "shaped in part by differences in housing costs, incomes, shelter availability, and local conditions." Those experiencing homelessness in #Florida are now subject to criminal penalties under H.B. 1365 due to an inability to afford the basics.

Florida Justice Institute@fji.law · 3d ago

In January 2025, more than 745,000 people in this country had nowhere to call home. FJI takes on the laws that punish people for being unhoused and uplifts the communities investing in real housing solutions. Follow to see how.

SAVE THE DATE: @fji.law's 3rd Annual Signature Event returns on Thursday, April 22nd, 2027! Mark your calendars and join FJI for an evening to celebrate organizational successes! Details forthcoming.

Florida Justice Institute@fji.law · 7d ago

We hold our Signature Event in April for a reason. April is National Second Chance Month, when we recognize the barriers people face after coming home from prison. This event honors the people and orgs tearing those barriers down. Mark your calendar and follow so you know when registration opens.

Just a week away from @floridapolicy.bsky.social's 2026 #FloridaPolicySummit! Looking forward to joining my colleagues about what smarter approaches to meaningful #CJReform can look like in #Florida. See you there: www.floridapolicy.org/speakers/mic...

🧵 (1/2) Among the reasons I serve on United Way Miami's Public Policy Committee is because of the focus on the #ALICE population. These are working households that are unable to afford the basics. "Miami single-family prices have risen by a staggering 296.6 percent," @newsweek.com reports.

The American dream Is slipping away in Miami

Miami’s dwindling supply of single-family homes and soaring housing costs are reshaping the American Dream, pushing more residents toward condos or out of the city altogether.

newsweek.com

Signed #OTD by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the #CivilRightsAct1957 was the first key legislative action to protect civil rights since Reconstruction. Its reach was limited, and today, much like in 1957, civil rights are still under attack. #TheMarchContinues

On this day in 1957, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. It strengthened voting rights protections, created the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and expanded federal enforcement. Though limited, it helped pave the way for landmark civil rights laws of the 1960s. #CivilRights

Holding officials accountable is not simply @fji.law's duty; it's a responsibility. Since 1978, FJI has done just that. #CJReform in #Florida is both a moral and an economic imperative. Help FJI continue upholding that mission through an investment today: www.fji.law/donate

Donate to Florida Justice Institute | Support Justice in Florida

Donate to the Florida Justice Institute and support civil rights advocacy across Florida. Your tax-deductible gift helps drive lasting change statewide.

fji.law

Florida Justice Institute@fji.law · last wk.

Congress is looking at heat in prisons, a proposed bill would force state prisons to install HVAC. That bill does nothing for Dade Correctional Institution, where people face the summer with no air conditioning. We will keep fighting for AC in state prisons. Follow our case at linkin.bio/fji

I have family members alive today who attended segregated schools. #RubyBridges is a living historical figure and further proof of why #CivilRights matter. Thank you, Ruby, for being an inspiration to generations of people who simply want the opportunity to determine their own futures.

Southern Poverty Law Center@splcenter.org · last wk.

#OTD in 1954, Ruby Bridges was born. She became a civil rights activist at just 6 years old as the first Black child to attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. #TheMarchContinues

When @fji.law helped make the #TristinMurphyAct a reality, it culminated years of work to secure justice for Tristin's surviving family. But, rightsizing the justice system in #Florida is a moral and economic imperative. Judge Leifman's steadfast advocacy is a testament to that: #CJReform matters.

Florida Justice Institute@fji.law · last wk.

In June, commissioners finally voted to open the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery, built to treat people with mental illness and addiction instead of putting them behind bars. It's still not open, and Miami needs it now. Read more at wlrn.org/2026-07-13/m...

Not all workers get the protections that Labor Day commemorates. FJI fights better working conditions inside, and groups like Beyond the Bars work to win fair pay and protections once they’re out. Learn more at linkin.bio/fji and beyondthebars.org

Claudette Colvin was born #OTD in 1939. She was 15 years old when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, #Alabama, bus for a white person, nine months before Rosa Parks famously inspired the Montgomery bus boycott for the same reason. #TheMarchContinues

Grateful for the good health and wisdom to be in the position to lead @fji.law's important work!

Florida Justice Institute@fji.law · 2w ago

Happy birthday to FJI's Executive Director, Michael Langley. We are grateful for Michael’s passion and leadership, which helps drive our mission forward. Join us in wishing Michael a happy birthday!

🧵 (1/3) This is 44. That's 44 years of triumphs, failures, lessons, and connections. Oprah recently expressed, "I think life starts at 44, because you come into yourself in a way that you're no longer trying to please everybody else. If that's the case, I'm proud of my evolution over time.

It's almost time. A few hours until @canesfootball.bsky.social kicks off the 2026 season. The expectations are high for this year's squad. Ultimately, expectations don't matter. Performance does. New team, same opportunities. Execute and the rest will take care of itself. Good luck, gents.

The SPLC mourns the loss of a pioneer within the feminist movement, Gloria Steinem. Along with Betty Friedan, Fannie Lou Hamer, Bella Abzug & Shirley Chisholm, Steinem started the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 to support women seeking public office. #TheMarchContinues as we honor her🕯️.

No amount of money ever bought a second of time. Cherish it while we have it. Missing my friend, Moosie, today. Taking time to #MoveForMoosie in his memory. Rest well, Moosie. Love you, brother.

Happiest of birthdays, Jessica!

Florida Justice Institute@fji.law · 2w ago

Happy birthday to Jessica Pla, our Director of Operations. Jessica’s exceptional leadership has been an undeniable asset to our team. Thank you for balancing the books, guiding our growth, and leading our team with integrity and excellence. Happy Birthday Jessica!

ICYMI: Hoodline reported on @fji.law's recent success in the #BaezvDixon case with our @splcenter.org colleagues. Read on:

Blinded Florida Inmate's $60K Rights Payout Seized, Judge Calls It Illegal

A Florida inmate blinded by guards won $60,000 — then the state seized it all through a prison debt lien. A judge just said that's illegal.

hoodline.com

#OTD in 1967, Thurgood Marshall was confirmed to be the first Black Supreme Court justice. He served for 24 years. As a civil rights lawyer, his victories include Brown v. Board of Education, which found that school segregation violated the 14th Amendment.. #TheMarchContinues

In 2022, I served as part of the broad coalition that helped voters to adopt Arizona's #Prop308 statewide ballot initiative. I appreciate @azagmayes.bsky.social for standing up against government overreach/abuse in everyday communities: www.azag.gov/press-releas...

Emmett Till's savage murder #OTD in 1955 forced a nation to see the excruciating consequences of racism.

At the heart of @fji.law's mission is working toward building a #Florida without criminalization of identity, preferences, or circumstances. Civil rights aren't conditional and human rights aren't optional. That's why I'll be part of the upcoming "Keeping It Civil" roundtable with #SFPOC on 10/2.

ICYMI: 2 weeks ago, co-counsels from @bilzinlaw.bsky.social joined @fji.law's litigation team for arguments in #WilsonvDixon. As FJI seeks to hold officials accountable for conditions, consider investing today in these long-term efforts to create meaningful #CJReform in #Florida: www.fji.law/donate

The Marshall Project highlights FJI's lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections as one of the cases shaping the story nationally. We will continue fighting in Florida and serving as a model for others to do the same. Learn more about our case at linkin.bio/fji

9/1/26 marks a year since the tragic passing of my beloved HS teammate/classmate, "Moosie" Custis. Since it's important to celebrate life while we're here, Moosie's wife is asking for a new kind of remembrance. Next Tuesday, I'll be doing the #MoveForMoosie challenge. I hope you'll join me on 9/1!

🧵 (1/2) One of @fji.law's primary pillars involves providing dignity for people with disabilities in #Florida. Over the last two years, generous support from The Miami Foundation, in conjunction with The Taft Foundation, enabled FJI to continue to pursue that mission.

🧵 (1/2) The scope of homelessness throughout the U.S. is vast and too many in #Florida and nationwide are one medical emergency, missed paycheck, or natural disaster away from experiencing it themselves. "Housing affordability is an important part of the equation," @visualcap.bsky.social explains.

@visualcap.bsky.social · 4w ago

Mapped: Where Homelessness Rates Are Highest in the U.S. 🏠  https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-where-homelessness-rates-are-highest-in-the-u-s/