PR: April 1st, 2026, “April Fools Day”, US Supreme Court Oral Hearing – Civil Rights Veteran Ted Hayes Files SCOTUS Amicus Brief on 1866 Act & “Federal Citizenship”

Greetings Journalist, Shalom!

As the Supreme Court moves toward critical deliberations on the Citizenship Clause, a unique voice from the front lines of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement has entered the arena.

Today, Ted Hayes, a 74-year-old advocate and son of a Buffalo Soldier, officially mailed his pro se Amicus Curiae brief to the Court (filing deadline March 18th).

This brief introduces a powerful, historically anchored argument: that the Fourteenth Amendment serves as a “legal lock” for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, specifically designed to secure Federal Citizenship for chattel slaves and their descendants in perpetuity.

Why this is a story now:

• The “Subjective Beneficiary” Argument: Hayes argues that Justices Thomas and Jackson are the literal “constitutional manifestations” of the 1866 Act—descendants of the very people the law was written to protect—placing a unique generational and moral mandate on the current bench.
• The 1866 Mandate: The filing calls on the Court to fulfill Section 10 of the 1866 Act by resolving modern controversies and restating the original intent of the 39th Congress.

The full press release is attached below. Ted Hayes is available for interviews to discuss the “lived condition” of citizenship and the unfinished work of Reconstruction.

Contact: Justiceville Initiative Justiceville@TedHayes.us
424-248-4219

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Los Angeles, California — Civil rights activist and longtime homelessness advocate Ted Hayes announced today that he has mailed a pro se Amicus Curiae Brief to the United States Supreme Court addressing the constitutional meaning and historical purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause in the pending birthright citizenship case scheduled for oral argument on April 1, 2026.

Hayes, a surviving veteran of the late 1960s civil rights movement and a 40-year advocate for homeless Americans in Los Angeles, states that the case carries profound implications for the descendants of America’s formerly enslaved people, whom he describes as the original beneficiaries of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment.

Born in 1951 in Aberdeen, Maryland, Hayes is the eldest son of a U.S. Army combat veteran and Buffalo Soldier of the 92nd Infantry Division, who served in World War II and the Korean War and was awarded the Purple Heart in both conflicts.

Hayes argues that the modern national debate over birthright citizenship has overlooked the Reconstruction-era legal framework established following the Civil War.

“The Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment were enacted in direct response to the institution of chattel slavery and the need to secure the citizenship and civil rights of the formerly enslaved and their descendants,” Hayes said.

According to Hayes, the current constitutional controversy presents what he describes as “a historic moment requiring the Supreme Court to carefully examine the original legal intent of Reconstruction-era legislation.”

His brief draws attention to historical documents, including the 1866 Civil Rights Act, the Emancipation Proclamation, and President Andrew Johnson’s veto message, which Hayes characterizes as key evidence for understanding the original legislative intent regarding citizenship and equal protection.

Hayes believes the case represents a defining constitutional moment for the country.

“This matter concerns the continuing meaning of citizenship and the Reconstruction amendments adopted after the Civil War. The Court’s interpretation will have profound implications for the future understanding of American citizenship,” Hayes stated.

Hayes is widely known for his decades of grassroots work addressing homelessness in Los Angeles, including the founding of Justiceville and Dome Village, pioneering community models that drew national attention to the systemic causes of homelessness.

Through his current national initiative EXODUS II, Hayes advocates long-term structural solutions to homelessness and broader social reconciliation rooted in American constitutional ideals.

Hayes is encouraging members of the public, scholars, journalists, and civic leaders to review the case closely and engage in the national conversation surrounding the constitutional questions now before the Court.

Those wishing to receive further information, request a copy of the brief, or participate in a discussion surrounding the issue may contact:

Justiceville Initiative
Email: Justiceville@TedHayes.us

Additional background information regarding Hayes’ initiatives and advocacy may be found at: http://TedHayes.us

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments in the case, Hayes urges Americans to recognize the gravity of the constitutional moment.

“The Reconstruction Amendments were born out of the Civil War and the nation’s effort to resolve the legacy of slavery. The meaning of those amendments remains central to the ongoing story of the American republic.”  Ted Hayes

The full brief and supporting documents can be viewed @ https://justiceville.us/amicus/

Press Releases: Civil Rights Veteran Ted Hayes Files Supreme Court Brief Defining “Federal Citizenship” as the Legacy of Reconstruction @ https://justiceville.us/press-rel1/

Immediate Release: March 17, 2026 @  https://justiceville.us/press-release-2/

Please feel free to call. 424-248-4219

Respectfully and best regards of GOD,Ted Hayes

Justiceville
EXODUS II: 2028, LA Olympics InitiativeAgape-Shalom!