Equal Access to Justice/MLK Day 2010

« Excerpts from Keynote Speaker Keith Boykin - Jan. 18, 2010 (17:01)

Update - January 26, 2010

Thomas M. Cooley Law School's Ann Arbor campus celebrates MLK Day 2010

More than 100 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered at the Ann Arbor campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18, 2010. The celebration included an acappella rendition of the Black National Anthem by Charm, a Detroit R&B group, and a pre-integration civil rights skit entitled Show Our Nation's Past that was written and produced by two Cooley Ann Arbor students, Jeanette Wallace and Jaunita Thurma, and performed by Ann Arbor-area elementary school students as well as Cooley students and professors. Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton gave the keynote address, entitled Racial Profiling; Both Sides of the Coin. Following his remarks, Clayton also participated in a panel discussion on racial profiling with J. Cedric Simpson, chief judge of the 14A District Court in Ypsilanti, Sheila Blakney, senior assistant Washtenaw County public defender, and Daniel Ray, a professor and assistant dean of Cooley's Ann Arbor campus.

As initiated by Cooley President and Dean Don LeDuc, Cooley's classes were suspended in observance of MLK Day and students, faculty, and staff devoted the day to study, reflection, and programs on the role of law and lawyers in protecting the rights of everyone and assuring equal access to justice. Cooley's 2010 campus-wide MLK Day theme, Continuing the Dream, addressed how King's belief in equality and justice for all can be applied to the current legal and social challenges we face as a nation, said Goldie Adele, Cooley's coordinator of student services and diversity programs.

Ann Arbor Panel Discussion (from left to right): Jerry Clayton; Washtenaw County Sheriff; J. Cedric Simpson, chief judge of the 14A District Court in Ypsilanti; Daniel Ray, professor and assistant dean of Cooley's Ann Arbor campus; and Sheila Blakney, senior assistant Washtenaw County public defender discuss racial profiling.

Ann Arbor Skit: Cooley Law School students and professors as well as Ann Arbor-area elementary school students perform a pre-integration civil rights skit entitled Show Our Nation's Past that was written and produced by two Ann Arbor Cooley students, Jeanette Wallace and Jaunita Thurman.

December 4, 2009

Equal Access to Justice/MLK Day 2010 With Keynote Speaker
Keith Boykin - January 18, 2010

Keith Boykin, MLK Day Keynote speaker [bio]

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Cooley Law School President Don LeDuc initiated a day-long program where all classes would be suspended and students, faculty, and staff would devote the day to study, reflection, and programs on the role of law and lawyers in protecting the rights of minorities and assuring equal protection under law. Cooley student organizations were empowered to develop the programs and activities for the day.

The Cooley Diversity Committee will again host its annual "Diversity Week" in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Diversity Committee (a Student Bar Association subcommittee) is made up of representatives from every Student Bar Association organization. The theme, "Continuing the Dream," will address how King's
belief in equality and justice for all can be applied to the current legal and social challenges we face as a nation, according to Goldie Adele, Coordinator of Student Services and Diversity Programs for Cooley.

The MLK Day 2010 event programs for each campus (All events are FREE and open to the public):

Lansing campus
Monday, January 18: This year, Equal Access to Justice/MLK Day 2010 at Cooley is proud to have editor of The Daily Voice online news site, a CNBC contributor, a BET TV host, and a New York Times best-selling author of three books Keith Boykin as the honored Keynote Speaker. Mr. Boykin will speak on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 5:00 pm in the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Auditorium, 6th floor Temple Building, 217 South Capital Avenue, Lansing, MI.

Tuesday, January 19: Amnesty International will show a movie about the life of Vernon Johns, who was a civil rights activist and served in the same church with Dr. King from 12-2 p.m., in Room CC 301.

Wednesday, January 20: The Asian and Pacific Americans Law Students Association (APALSA) will show the movie "Freedom Riders", which will be followed by a brief discussion on the movie theme from 12-2 p.m. in Room CC 911.

Wednesday, January 20: ACLU will host a presentation by Mark Fancher, who is the Racial Justice Representative of ACLU Michigan from 3-5 p.m. in the Temple Building (Middle Temple 411). Mr. Fancher’s presentation will focus on racial discrimination in high schools and school districts.

Grand Rapids campus
The Grand Rapids campus will host a keynote event at noon on January 18, 2010. The program will be held at the Grand Rapids campus, Room 529 and lunch will be served.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Walter Brame, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Urban League.

Auburn Hills campus
The campus program Equal Access to Justice Day: Evolution of Progress on January 18, 2010 starts with breakfast at 9:30 am, followed by a presentation of the Equal Access to Justice Award and the winners of the Pontiac High School writing competition. At 10:00 am, Judge Margie Braxton, Wayne County Circuit Judge, will address what 21st century lawyers can do to ensure that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is kept alive and any pressing issues for the next generation of attorneys.

Ann Arbor campus
The day of events on January 18, 2010 has been planned by the Ann Arbor campus Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor campus Student Bar Association.

The program runs from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Ann Arbor campus. This will include the singing of the Black National Anthem, performance of a Civil Rights skit: "Show our Nations past", and a speaker presentation at 11:40 am by Jerry Clayton, Washtenaw County Sheriff on "Racial Profiling: Both Sides of the Coin."