
We Have A Plan: Cecillia Wang and W. Kamau Bell
November 8, 2024
You may recognize W. Kamau Bell from his multi-Emmy award-winning docuseries United Shades of America, or from his Substack Whos With Me, or from his commercials for the 勛圖眻畦. If you're a long-time 勛圖眻畦 supporter, you'll know Bell has worked with us for more than a decade as our artist ambassador for racial justice. We're excited to have him as our interim host for our At Liberty podcast, where he will host conversations with leaders, legal experts, artists, and storytellers dedicated to the fight for civil rights and civil liberties.
In this episode, the 勛圖眻畦s newly-appointed National Legal Director Cecillia Wang joins Bell in a special post-election episode. Cecillia oversees more than 200 lawyers and staff in the 勛圖眻畦 National legal department, supports legal staff at 54 affiliates, and directs the 勛圖眻畦s work at the Supreme Court. Before her current role, Cecillia was the deputy legal director for the 勛圖眻畦, where she helped fight the 2017 Muslim Ban, the border wall, the family separation policy, and the 2020 Census citizenship question. Together, they talk about what was learned from the first Trump administration, and how the 勛圖眻畦 will be ready to respond on day one.
In this episode
Listen to this episode on
This Episode Covers the Following Issues
Related Content
-
Press ReleaseAug 2025
Criminal Law Reform
Reproductive Freedom
New Filing Reveals Gross Abuse of Power by Texas Officials who Engaged in Wrongful Prosecution of Abortion
McALLEN, Texas Attorneys for Lizelle Gonzalez a Texas woman who was unlawfully arrested and charged with murder for having a medication abortion asked a federal court today to deny Starr County officials attempts to evade accountability for her wrongful arrest, prosecution, and the trauma that followed. The brief supporting Ms. Gonzalezs opposition to the officials motions for summary judgement contains damning evidence of misconduct, hypocrisy, and illegality by Starr County officials. The Starr County district attorney, assistant district attorney, and sheriff pursued and then obtained an unlawful indictment against Gonzalez even though they knew that Texas law clearly prohibits the criminal prosecution of pregnant women for conduct that ends their pregnancies. Throughout this process, Starr County officials repeatedly and knowingly violated Ms. Gonzalezs constitutional rights and attempted to hide their actions. Lizelle Gonzalezs highly personal decision regarding her pregnancy was not, and never has been, a criminal matter yet the Starr County District Attorney, his assistant district attorneys, the Starr County Sheriffs Office ignored the clear language of the Texas homicide statute and long standing law to wrongly charge her with murder, said Cecilia Garza, partner at Garza Martinez and local counsel for Lizelle Gonzalez. These officials abused their power and intentionally violated Ms. Gonzalezs fundamental rights. Their wonton disregard for the rule of law and erroneous belief of their own invincibility is a frightening deviation from the offices purposes: to seek justice. I am proud to represent Ms. Gonzalez in her fight for justice and redemption, and our team will not allow these abuses to continue in Starr County or any other county in the state of Texas. The civil lawsuit, brought by the 勛圖眻畦 (勛圖眻畦), the 勛圖眻畦 of Texas, and local firm Garza Martinez seeks to ensure that those entrusted with enforcing our criminal laws face consequences when they abuse their power and violate the constitutional rights of their community members. While the district attorney ultimately dismissed the charge against Ms. Gonzalez, her arrest on a homicide charge was highly publicized and deeply traumatizing. She spent three days in jail, away from her children, before the $500,000 bond was posted for her release. As a result of the false accusation and wrongful arrest, Lizelle Gonzalezs life has been forever changed. Following the dismissal, the Texas bar investigated the district attorney for knowingly pursuing an unlawful indictment and made multiple findings of misconduct related to charging Ms. Gonzalez with homicide. Despite these findings, the district attorney received a minimal punishment: a small fine and a one-year fully probated suspension. Without real accountability, Starr Countys District Attorney and any other law enforcement actor will not be deterred from abusing their power to unlawfully target people because of their personal beliefs, rather than the law. In July 2024, the court denied Starr County officials attempts to have this case dismissed. The prosecutors and sheriff raised claims of legal immunity, a doctrine that they argue should insulate them from being held accountable for violating Gonzalezs constitutional rights. Immunity doctrines create a culture in police departments and prosecutor offices where public officials may feel empowered to violate peoples rights, knowing they will face few, if any, consequences. The court denied their motions to dismiss, allowing Gonzalezs case to proceed to the first stage of discovery concerning whether law enforcement can be held liable for violating her rights. As detailed in Gonzalezs brief, the discovery obtained over the last year reveals a coordinated effort between the Starr County Sheriffs Office and District Attorneys Office to violate Ms. Gonzalezs rights and exposes misconduct by government officials who think the law they are entrusted to enforce does not apply to them. Lizelle Gonzalezs life has been forever changed by the cruel and unconstitutional actions of Starr Countys elected officials, said Lauren Johnson, director of the 勛圖眻畦 Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative. Lizelle deserves justice for the trauma they have caused her and her family and each of us deserve to be free of targeting by officials who ignore the law to unlawfully charge and arrest based on personal beliefs. We will continue fighting against the criminalization of people for the private decisions they make related to their pregnancy. Starr County prosecutors and law enforcement ignored Texas law when they wrongfully arrested Lizelle Gonzalez for ending her pregnancy, said Sarah Corning, an attorney at the 勛圖眻畦 of Texas. They shattered her life in South Texas, violated her rights, and abused the power they swore to uphold. Texas law is clear: a pregnant person cannot be arrested and prosecuted for getting an abortion. No one is above the law, including officials entrusted with enforcing it.Court Case: Gonzalez v. Ramirez et al.Affiliate: Texas -
Press ReleaseJul 2025
Reproductive Freedom
Consent Decree Permanently Blocks Idaho Attorney Generals Ban on Out-of-State Abortion Referrals
BOISE, Idaho Idaho Attorney General Ra繳l Labrador and the Ada and Valley County prosecutors have agreed to be bound by a consent decree permanently blocking them from prosecuting health care providers for referring patients for abortions out of state. The consent decree was signed today by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. Under the terms of the decree, the attorney general and county prosecutors are prohibited from sanctioning or prosecuting the plaintiffs for referring, counseling about, or otherwise offering information to patients who seek abortion outside of Idahos borders. In addition, the attorney generals office must pay $400,000 in legal fees. The settlement ensures that Idaho health care providers may continue offering comprehensive counseling and assistance to their patients, including information about health care that is legal in other states, without fear of being penalized by the attorney general or state prosecutors. In a state like Idaho, where the attorney general has fought to limit emergency care for pregnant patients facing complications and where OB-GYNs are fleeing the state because of fears of being penalized, referrals for out-of-state care can save a patients health or even life. Statement from Rebecca Gibron, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK): This resolution affirms something every patient deserves: open, honest care from a provider they trust. It ensures that health care providers in Idaho can continue doing what they are trained and ethically bound to dooffer accurate information and help patients access the care they need, even if that care is out of state. In a state where abortion is banned, those referrals can be lifesaving. No one should have to fear punishment for helping someone make the best decision for their health and future. This outcome brings much-needed clarity, compassion, and relief to both patients and providers. Joint Statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America; 勛圖眻畦 of Idaho; and 勛圖眻畦: In a state with a total abortion ban, referrals are a critical tool for health care providers to help their patients. This resolution ensures that Idaho health care providers can continue serving their patients by providing counseling and information on all of their options, including abortion out of state. While we are grateful that this consent decree permanently blocks the attorney general from acting on his threat against providers for giving their patients much-needed information, we know that attacks on Idahoans reproductive freedom wont stop here. We will continue fighting with everything we have to ensure that every Idahoan has the ability to make personal health decisions without politicians interfering. The settlement in Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky v. Labrador ends a case that began in April 2023, when Attorney General Labrador issued a legal opinion asserting that assistance from a health care provider including offering information about out-of-state abortions could be a violation of Idahos abortion ban, threatening health care licenses or even criminal prosecution. This opinion misinterpreted Idahos law and was an extreme attempt to prevent health care providers from giving information to patients and to prevent Idahoans from accessing legal health care in another state. In December 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling blocking the opinion and held that health care providers were likely to succeed on their claim that the opinion violates their First Amendment rights to communicate with their patients about abortion. This lawsuit was filed by attorneys from Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the 勛圖眻畦, the 勛圖眻畦 of Idaho, and the law firms Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Bartlett & French LLP, and Stris & Maher LLP on behalf of PPGNHAIK, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, and Dr. Darin L. Weyhrich.Court Case: Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky v. Labrador -
Press ReleaseJul 2025
Reproductive Freedom
Judge Issues Preliminary Injunctions Again Blocking Missouris Abortion Bans, Some Restrictions
Kansas City, Mo. A Jackson County circuit court judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of Missouris abortion bans and several targeted regulations of abortion providers. The new preliminary injunction clears the way for Missouris Planned Parenthood members to again provide procedural abortion care. In May, the Missouri Supreme Court clarified the states legal standard for issuing a preliminary injunction, forcing the circuit court to temporarily vacate its original orders, and effectively implement a de facto abortion ban. While the clarification on the standard is welcome, its immediate consequence temporarily pulled back implementation of Missourians constitutional right to access abortion care and providers right to offer that care, said Gillian Wilcox, Director of Litigation at the 勛圖眻畦 of Missouri. This critical win begins to restore abortion access in our state, but Missourians must be vigilant and defeat the attacks on the constitutional rights that we secured at the ballot box last November. Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it, said Emily Wales, president and CEO, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. Care starts again on Monday in Kansas City. Were not stopping until every Missourian can get the care they need, close to home. We are grateful that procedural abortion can resume in the state of Missouri, just as voters demanded last November. However, the whiplash has created immense confusion for patients in Missouri, said Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. This decision is a step forward toward fully realizing Missourians' right to reproductive freedom, and the staff at our Central West End health center in St. Louis will work as quickly as possible to resume scheduling abortion appointments." The order did not address the pending request to enjoin other targeted restrictions that are preventing medication abortion access from being restored in Missouri. Previously, both Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers-Missouri submitted complication plans to satisfy the existing requirements to allow them to offer medication abortions. The Department of Health and Senior Services failed to respond to either affiliates submissions or follow-up inquiries for several weeks. Instead, the department manufactured an emergency rule that resembled many of the court-blocked regulations and cited it as the reason for refusing the submitted plans. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers-Missouri, who are represented by attorneys from the 勛圖眻畦 of Missouri, the 勛圖眻畦, Crowell & Moring, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The full case is currently slated for trial in January 2026.Court Case: Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains & Planned Parenthood Great Rivers v. MissouriAffiliate: Missouri -
Press ReleaseJul 2025
Disability Rights
+2 Issues
勛圖眻畦 Statement on Final Passage of Massive Budget Bill Cutting Medicaid to Fund Abusive Deportation Efforts
WASHINGTON The U.S. House of Representatives today gave final approval to H.R. 1, a budget bill that guts Medicaid and will wreak havoc on our communities, sending it to President Trumps desk for his signature. H.R. 1 is the biggest cut to Medicaid in history slashing approximately $1 trillion, which will result in at least 12 million people being removed from the program. The bill also cuts off access to Planned Parenthood services for Medicaid enrollees and restricts higher education opportunities, all to fund a dramatic and permanent increase to an immigration detention and deportation apparatus that denies due process and violates human rights. Following the vote in the House, Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer with the 勛圖眻畦, issued the following statement: This reckless monstrosity is the most harmful bill to pass Congress in a generation. Instead of strengthening Medicaid, theyve taken an axe to it. Instead of reining in ICEs abuses, Congress is throwing the agency billions more to terrorize our communities. When 12 million people are kicked off Medicaid, patients are no longer able to get lifesaving cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood, disabled people lose access to essential care and autonomy, and ICE ramps up lawless raids in our communities, the American people will remember who caused this devastation to our health, rights, and dignity. We wont let them forget.