The importance of groups: First Amendment expert testifies before United States Commission on Civil Rights
John Inazu, JD, first amendment expert and professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, was invited to provide testimony to the United States Commission on Civil Rights briefing on “Peaceful Coexistence? Reconciling Non-discrimination Principles with Civil Liberties.”
Washington University recognizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day
“Hope in Action” is the theme of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration at Washington University in St. Louis. The program will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, in Graham Chapel and feature a keynote address by Vice Provost Adrienne Davis. A commemoration also is planned on the School of Medicine campus.
New book explores forgotten freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly has become the forgotten constitutional right, with courts’ attention focused more on freedoms of association and speech. Both the Occupy and Tea Party movements, however, are reminders of how the right to assemble has been “at the heart of some of the most important social movements in American history: antebellum abolitionism, women’s suffrage and the Civil Rights Movement,” says John Inazu, JD, PhD, associate professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis. In his new book, Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly, published last month by Yale University Press, Inazu examines why freedom of assembly has become “a historical footnote in American law and political theory,” and what has been lost with the weakening of protections for private groups.
Elusive civil rights court records now just a click away with new online database
Photo courtesy Library of Congress.Thurgood Marshall (center) with George E.C. Hayes and James Nabri celebrating the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision.For the past 50-plus years, civil rights litigation has greatly affected Americans’ lives. It has secured our Constitutional rights, and it has dramatically improved many of our public and private institutions. Information about these cases, however, has been exceedingly difficult to locate. Until now. More…
Law school speaker series focuses on public interest
A lead counsel in the Guantanamo Bay detainees U.S. Supreme Court case, an expert on pornography in feminism and law, and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee for his work in international criminal justice are part of the fall lineup for the School of Law’s ninth annual Public Interest Law & Policy Speakers Series.
‘Documenting Change symposium offers programs that commemorate the civil rights struggle and celebrate the Henry Hampton Collection
Events include film screening of “Eyes on the Prize” and a panel discussion about the series; a keynote address by Robert Moses; and an exhibition in Olin Library.
Association of Black Students Lecture to feature leading civil rights activist Robert Moses
Robert Moses, one of the leading figures in the American civil rights movement, will give the Assembly Series lecture at 11 a.m. Wed., April 6 in Graham Chapel. The annual Martin Luther King memorial event, sponsored by the Association of Black Students, is free and open to the public. This is the keynote address for the “Documenting Change” symposium.
MLK Day observed around campus
MLK delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech.”Be The Change” is the theme of the University’s annual Commemoration Celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday at 7 p.m., Jan. 17 in Graham Chapel. The celebration is free and open to the public. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton will begin the program with a welcome and remarks. The evening will include performances by Vashon High School’s drumline, the YMCA Boys Choir, the University’s Vision Gospel Choir and Black Anthology, as well as testimonials from University students.
Opposition to charter school movement misguided, says expert in U.S. legal, social history
Charter schools are attended disproportionately by poor, minority students.Since their creation in the early 1990s, charter schools have come under fire from many civil rights supporters. “Traditional advocates of civil rights claim that charter schools are but another opportunity for whites to escape from the public school system and gain advantage for their children at taxpayers’ expense,” says Tomiko Brown-Nagin, associate professor of law and of history at Washington University in St. Louis. “This criticism overlooks the astounding fact, however, that most charter schools have been established in poor, minority neighborhoods and are attended disproportionately by poor, minority students — those whose schools and neighborhoods have been untouched by Brown v. Board of Education.”
Law school presents Access to Justice speaker series
The Counsel for the NAACP, the Chief Judge Emeritus and Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and experts on American Indian water rights, globalization, civil rights, women’s legal history, disability rights, death penalty, and economics are part of the spring lineup for the School of Law’s sixth annual Public Interest Law Speaker Series.
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