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June 14, 2024

American Bar Association to host virtual Juneteenth program

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2024 — The American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice in recognition of Juneteenth will host the virtual program, “On Juneteenth: Reflections on African Descendants’ Freedom, Hair and the Law.”

Panelists will explore the significance of hair to African descendants’ historic and contemporary pursuit of freedom, justice, equity and full recognition of personhood. They will also discuss civil rights legislation, litigation and policy to redress race-based natural hair discrimination, infringements upon freedom of expression, the harms of chemical relaxers, alongside contemplating the role of law and corporations in both perpetuating and remediating these harms disproportionately endured by African descendants.

What:  
“On Juneteenth: Reflections on African Descendants’ Freedom, Hair and the Law,” sponsored by the African American Affairs Committee of the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice

When:
Monday, June 17 from 1-2:30 pm EDT

Where:
Virtual; Free non-CLE Webinar

Opening remarks will be by Mary Smith, president, American Bar Association; Robin R. Runge, chair, ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice; and Tyeesha Dixon, deputy counsel to the president of the United States. Speakers include, Chelsie Green, associate attorney, Levin Papantonio Rafferty Law; Torri Jacobus, director of Statewide Equity, Inclusion and Justice, Administrative Office of the Courts, Supreme Court of New Mexico; Patricia Okonta, assistant counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund; and Cary Martin Shelby, Ralph Brill Endowed Chair professor of law, Chicago-Kent College of Law and co-chair, African American Affairs Committee, ABA Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice. D. Wendy Greene, professor of law and director of the Center for Law, Policy and Social Action, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and co-chair, African American Affairs Committee, ABA Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice, will be the moderator.

The ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice provides leadership within the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties and social justice. Representing nearly 10,000 members with a wide range of professional interests and expertise, the section keeps its members abreast of complex civil rights and social justice issues and ensures that they remain a focus of law and policy.

Reporters interested in attending should contact [email protected]. The public can register here.

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on X (formerly Twitter) @ABANews.