ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice 127d ago

In this Chair Chat, Mario Sullivan speaks with civil rights attorney Karis Stephen about the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 – a Reconstruction-era law designed to protect constitutional rights and hold government actors accountable. They examine how Section 1983 emerged from the Act and explore growing concerns that it is being used against journalists, protestors, and diversity initiatives. The conversation highlights qualified immunity, modern litigation trends, and what this shift means for civil rights enforcement today. Karis Stephen – Associate, Allred, Maroko & Goldberg Mario A. Sullivan (Moderator) – Chair, ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice; Partner, Johnson & Sullivan, Ltd. -- During the 2025–26 Bar Year, Section Chair Mario A. Sullivan continues CRSJ’s Chair Chat – bringing together leading lawyers, scholars, advocates, and organizers to tackle the most urgent civil rights and rule-of-law issues and share practical strategies for impact. New episodes premiere every other Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET on our YouTube channel. Subscribe for updates and catch past conversations on-demand. Learn more about CRSJ Chair Chat: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/chair-chat/