Section Chair Angela J. Scott pens her first column of the bar year. In her column, she focuses on the impact of this year and the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and calls for justice for the African American community.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
CRSJ Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice is proud to partner with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on election protection. The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition works year-round to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to vote and have that vote count. Made up of more than 100 local, state and national partners, Election Protection uses a wide range of tools and activities to protect, advance and defend the right to vote.
Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice
In the wake of the 2020 US presidential elections, the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Rights of Immigrants Committee - in strategic partnership with the German Marshall Fund of the United States - is hosting a policy summit designed to advance racial equity and social justice principles. Over the course of two days, the interdisciplinary conference will explore myriad manifestations of interpersonal, structural, and institutionalized discrimination to create enhanced awareness around these issues. The convening will also culminate in concrete community-driven policy recommendations to achieve positive social, political, and legal reform to ensure a better tomorrow for all.
As our nation mourns this tremendous loss with those around the world, Justice Ginsburg's immeasurable contributions to gender equality, equal opportunity and civil rights will be remembered, but for us this loss is much more personal. As members of the ABA Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice (formerly the Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities), we know intimately of her contributions because Justice Ginsburg was more than a longstanding friend and supporter of the ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section; in fact, she was one of us.
Read - MoreU.S. Supreme Court Justice and former Section Council member Ruth Bader Ginsburg authored an article on Human Rights Hero Constance Baker Motley.
Read - MorePast ABA President Martha Barnett highlights the remarkable impact of U.S. Supreme Court Justice and former Section Council member Ruth Bader Ginsburg on advancing gender equality.
Read - MoreSection Chair Angela Scott ushers in a the 20-21 Bar Year with brand new initiatives and a new slogan: United for Civil Rights Through Service. During the course of the year, she plans to develop the Section's first podcast, begin a new Fellows Program, lead a Voting Rights Service Project, and more! In her video, she details her full plans for the upcoming year.
See - the InitiativesIn August 2020, the American Bar Association passed updated Election Administration Guidelines that we encourage election officials to adopt. The panelists discussed several of the Guidelines, including voting during emergencies, absentee ballots, and voter purging on a recent CRSJ program that was featured on C-SPAN.
Learn - MoreThe American health care industry is killing us, and the casualties are mounting daily. Instead of saving lives, it is more often taking them, and not only by failing to seriously confront the coronavirus pandemic and racism in the industry, but also by the way health care is financed. We have the most expensive health care system in the world, and until the ravages of the pandemic became undeniable, we could take some comfort in believing it was, at least for those with access, the “best in the world.” This characterization is no longer tenable. In the summer of 2020, with 5 percent of the world’s population, we had 25 percent of the world’s COVID-19 infections and 25 percent of the world’s deaths (more than 175,000 by August 25). And this is just the most dramatic deadly trend.
Read - the latest issueThe Section deeply thanks all of our sponsors of the 2020 Thurgood Marshall Award Celebration. The first-ever virtual Celebration was a monumental success and featured remarks from the esteemed recipient and a conversation on justice and equity between Marian Wright Edelman and Valerie Jarrett. Your generosity allows us to continue our work, including expanded programming and publications in response to COVID-19 highlighting the effects of the pandemic on civil rights and social justice, on elections in particular, and on the fundamental causes of inequality. CRSJ pays every gift forward by giving the legal profession and advocacy community the tools to make positive change.
Dec
04
Events | Webinar
The Future of Olmstead: 2020 and Beyond
Since Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s 1999 majority decision in Olmstead v. L.C., Olmstead litigation has been one of the primary means through which the government and advocates have pursued deinstitutionaliz…
Dec
08
Events | Webinar
ABA and the American Immigration Lawyers Association Partner for Free Legal Answers
The country and the legal profession have been forced to adapt to the new realities of life and practice in the environment created by COVID-19. Pro bono programs have quickly pivoted to develop remo…
Dec
09
Events | Webinar
Structural Racism is Killing Us. Now What?
The pandemic’s effect on marginalized racial, ethnic, and religious communities was exacerbated by - while concurrently worsening - minority socioeconomic status, health conditions, living conditions…
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