The Battle for Democracy: Black History & Today’s Fight for Civil Rights

In response to the current national climate, this free public forum brings together historians, legal experts, and community advocates to examine how Black history illuminates today’s struggles around immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and constitutional rights.

The program will open with a moderated fireside conversation exploring the long fight for Black citizenship and equal rights, and the tradition of fearless movement lawyering in the face of state- and federally sanctioned racial violence.

The second portion of the event will feature a panel of civil rights, immigration, and criminal defense attorneys working directly with impacted communities, including individuals detained by ICE. Labor union leadership will also join the discussion to address the impact of current federal immigration enforcement on workers and the broader workforce.

Attendees will leave with critical historical and legal context, as well as practical, know-your-rights information. Importantly, attendees will have the opportunity to be in community with others committed to justice, solidarity, and collective action.

This event is organized in partnership with allied community organizations, including the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA), Musuem of African American History, the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project (CRRJ), the Massachusetts Bar Association DEIB, and the Massachusetts LBGTQ+ Bar Association.

Info: A moderated fireside conversation exploring historic struggles for Black citizenship and equal rights, and what fearless movement lawyering looked like under conditions of extreme, state-sanctioned racial violence. Professor Burnham shares her experience as Black Panther, Angela Davis’s former attorney, and what zealous advocacy looks like in the face of fascism.

Info: A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, solutions based panel featuring civil rights, immigration, and criminal defense attorneys working directly with impacted communities, including ICE detainees.
Labor union leadership will address the real-time impact of federal immigration enforcement on workers and the broader workforce.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys