ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice 100d ago

This session is part 2 of 8, on the first day of CRSJ's Civil Rights Boot Camp. Contact CRSJ@americanbar.org for details & how to get involved! -- As federal institutions increasingly abdicate their responsibility to protect marginalized communities, the front lines of the fight for justice have shifted to our own backyards. This session centers on the power of state constitutions and local statutes to serve not just as a fallback, but as a primary engine for liberation. We will explore how grassroots-driven legislative strategy and state-level litigation can dismantle systems of oppression in policing, housing, and bodily autonomy. We’ll discuss how advocates are successfully bypassing federal gridlock to win transformative victories at the state level. Justice is not a spectator sport, and this panel bridges the gap between legal theory and boots-on-the-ground action. Participants will learn how to identify state-level levers of power that exceed federal guarantees and how to effectively partner with local advocacy networks to drive systemic change. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for leveraging their legal expertise to support grassroots movements and protect civil rights within their own jurisdictions. Anna Chu – Executive Director, We The Action Pilar Weiss – Executive Director, Community Justice Exchange; Founder, National Bail Fund Network Stratton Politzer – Founder & President, Equality Florida Melba V. Pearson, Esq. (Moderator) – Chair, ABA Criminal Justice Section; Director, Prosecution Projects, Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy -- CRSJ's Civil Rights Boot Camp is a two-day, virtual summit that serves as a comprehensive resource for young lawyers, law students, public service attorneys, and advocates of all backgrounds. This initiative, led by the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, aims to provide the essential tools and training needed to practice civil rights law effectively.