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November 30, 2021 CHAIR COLUMN

December CRSJ Chair's Column

While we rejoice in the accountability found through the guilty verdicts in the Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd murder trials, we also recognize that vigilantism, whether sanctioned through a Texas law or Wisconsin jury decision, rends the rule of law. A rule that is not universally and fairly applied is no rule at all and becomes a mockery of justice. I'm grateful that this Section stands for true justice, fairly and equally applied; that we work together to see this concept manifested in our Nation, and that we remain unmesmerized by news to the contrary, so that we can continue our work of lifting humanity.

Please join me on December 15 at 5:00 p.m. ET for our End of the Year Party where we will focus on the progress we have made. I ask each of you to come with one point of progress to share so we can end the year celebrating the triumphs we will continue to demand.

Also, please join us on December 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET for the Sixth Annual State of Voting Rights, on December 8 and 9 for A Social Justice Policy Summit: A New Administration, and on December 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET for Preserving Roe and the Rule of Law, as we continue our work this year. Thanks to Jason Abel, Engy Abdelkader, Aracely Muñoz, Betsy Harned, and all our devoted members who work so hard to bring us these events.

Lastly, please mark your calendars for the Section's Midyear Council Meeting on February 2-4, 2022. Our next quarterly Council Meeting will take place virtually during the week prior to the 2022 ABA Midyear Meeting. Additional details are forthcoming. We hope you will join the discussion!

I look forward to another productive year in 2022!

Beth K. Whittenbury
Chair, Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Beth K. Whittenbury is the 2021-22 Chair of the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and past leader of the ABA Commission on Youth at Risk. Currently, she is the Principal at Beth K. Whittenbury & Associates.