Celebrating 40 years of action for justice.
It’s an important time for the organization. We’re reflecting back on where we’ve been, what we’ve achieved, and what we’ve learned. We’re making big plans for our future. And our work to organize for a fair economy, a healthy environment, and an honest democracy continues today.
KFTC is strengthened by individuals and groups, in Kentucky and beyond, who help us sustain our movement and win our vision. Some of these partnerships are reflected here. We’re grateful that there are too many to name at once.
An abundance of organizations, candidates, mutual aid efforts, grassroots leaders, and more make up the justice ecosystem in Kentucky. We hope that you will learn more about their work and support them with your time, donations, or whatever ways you are able.
Thank you for being part of the movement for a better Kentucky. We look forward to building the future with you!
1981: KFTC launched as the Kentucky Fair Tax Coalition in Hazard in Perry County. The group wanted coal and timber companies in eastern Kentucky to pay fair taxes to support healthy communities.
1988: 82% of Kentucky voters say “YES” to the Broad Form Deed Constitutional Amendment to protect landowners from strip miners.
1999: Hopkins County Chapter members and Noel Avenue residents in Madisonville organize for and win sidewalks and storm drainage – basic services already provided to their neighbors.
2001: The Jefferson County Chapter marched with others in Louisville against police abuse. The Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression kentuckyalliance.org was a leader in this coalition, and has been mobilizing people of color and white people to take action together against racism for over 40 years.
2007: KFTC’s Canary Project hosted one of several flyover tours of mountaintop removal sites.
2013: Members and allies rallied at the State Capitol to support restoration of voting rights for Kentuckians with a felony in their past. The work to respect voting rights continues today and includes: Kentucky Unitarian Universalist Justice Action Network at www.kuujan.org, ACLU of Kentucky at www.aclu-ky.org, Kentucky Council of Churches at www.kycouncilofchurches.org, Black Live Matter Louisville @BLMLouisville on social media, Kentucky Poor People's Campaign at www.poorpeoplescampaign.org, Louisville SURJ at www.louisvillesurj.org, and People Advocating Recovery at www.kyapac.org.
2016: 250 Kentuckians gathered for the Empower Kentucky Summit, part of a public process to shape a people’s energy plan.
2021: Over 100 members met virtually for a series of conversations to imagine and envision the next 10 years of KFTC. They set a goal to be “Guided by Black, Indigenous, People of Color and impacted communities, recruit, equip, and activate a network of 100,000 members and partners across all 120 counties to dismantle racism and all systems of oppression, to develop a robust democracy and transform the future of Kentucky.”