Wellness and Self-Care for the Holiday Weekend

Created and curated by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Black Lives Matter

The Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA) is heartbroken over the brutal killing of George Floyd.

ACBA stands for inclusion, equity, diversity, and fostering relationships within our legal and general community. We are aware of the senseless and merciless killings of unarmed black men across our nation – along with the intentional misuse of white privilege. We also recognize that these incidents have happened before and continue to happen to black women, transgender individuals and people of color. We are aware that there are systemic issues of racism that plague our institutions.  

ACBA builds up attorneys who practice with fervor, skill, and compassion. We need strong voices who will stand against injustice and advocate for the voiceless. Our goal is to be a driving force in cultivating fierce advocates who will take action to ensure equal protection under the law. Breaks in our system will not be bandaged, but repaired. We stand against racism, oppression, and discrimination. We will continue to promote justice for all.

21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge

The ACBA will be participating in a “21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge ©,” and we invite you to join us. The 21-Day Challenge was created by diversity expert Eddie Moore, Jr. to advance deeper understandings of the intersections of race, power, privilege, supremacy and oppression. We will be kicking our participation off on June 19th with an event honoring Juneteenth.

The ABA’s Labor and Employment Section has put together a great syllabus that we will be following. 

Becoming Anti Racist-AndrewMIbrahim
Follow the ABA syllabus here

Sign the ACBA 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge pledge here

View the list of people who have pledged to participate here

21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge is the registered copyright of America & Moore, LLC. 2014. 

ACBA and CHBA Civil Rights Series

We’re working on a series of CLE programs related to civil rights and racial justice issues to  provide lawyers with information, resources and tools necessary to effectively advocate for racial justice, and systemic reform. Keep an eye out for more information soon on dates and speakers.

Title:     Just Mercy Movie Viewing and Discussion

Date:      June 11, 2020, 6-9:30PM

Title:     Juneteenth Observation Event

Date:      Friday, June 19, 2020, 12:00 Noon View a recording here

Title:     What it Means to Defund the Police

Date:      Monday, June 29, 2020 12:00PM RSVP here            

Title:     Allyship: How Lawyers Can Support Directly Impacted Communities

Date:      Tuesday, June 30, 2020 12:00PM RSVP here

Empowering and supporting communities to create impact litigation and social change

Title:     An Overview of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement and Addressing Racial Bias Within Policing

Date:      Wednesday, July 1, 2020 5:30PM RSVP here

Title:     The Black Panther Party – Legal and Social Impact

Date:      July 15, 2020 5:30PM-7PM RSVP here

Statements/Articles

STATEMENT OF THE CHARLES HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD Read it here

President Barack Obama: How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change Read it here

Supreme Court of California Issues Statement on Equality and Inclusion: June 11, 2020 Read it here

Op-Ed: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge Read it here

What if…..White People Took Responsibility for Our Role in this Moment? Read it here

2019 Oakland youth poet laureate Samuel Getachew: You shouldn’t need a Harvard degree to survive birdwatching while black Read it here

A Quick Read for White People Who Don’t Consider Themselves Racist Read it here

We want to hear from you

We are interested in publishing our members’ thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement and, in particular, the role of the legal system and the Rule of Law in addressing police brutality and racial oppression.  Blogs are 250 words, and can be submitted to valerie@acbanet.org.  We’ll post blogs on this webpage, and they also go out in our newsletter. 

  • ACBA member Jonathan Madison made a keynote speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in San Mateo.   

ACBA members offering tips/services

ACBA Board Member Jo-Anna Nieves, Nieves Law Firm APC, put together a know your rights sheet for those protesting.

ACBA member and former BALI | Bay Area Legal Incubator Attorney Givelle Jensen Lamano, Lamano Law Office, offered pro bono representation for those arrested while protesting. Read more

Additional tips for protesting

Sign up to be a Legal Observer

Details on the National Lawyers Guild Legal Observer® program here

Opportunity to Represent Protesters Learn more

Support Black Owned Businesses

Check out the BAOBOB (Black Area Organization of Black Owned  Businesses) directory here: BAOBOB-Directory

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Racial Justice Newsletter

Sign Up for LCCRSF’s Racial Justice Newsletter by emailing Sam Lew: slew@lccrsf.org. For inquiries on pro bono opportunities please reach out to Elica Vafaie and Bréyon Austin: evafaie@lccrsf.org and baustin@lccrsf.org. 

Know your rights: if you are exercising your right to demonstrate

Equal Justice Society in the News

Chris Bridges on CNN Special Report on Unconscious Bias

Chris Bridges, a member of the Equal Justice Society’s legal team and Project Director of thier National Implicit Bias Network appeared on CNN in a June 7, 2020, special report “Unconscious Bias: Facing the Realities of Racism” hosted by CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield exploring the impact of implicit biases in workplaces, schools and communities. Watch the clip here.

EJS Legal Director Mona Tawatao on KTVU ‘Voices of Change’

EJS Legal Director Mona Tawatao appeared June 7, 2020, on “Voices for Change,” a new show hosted by Greg Lee to amplify conversations about #racialinjustice and social justice in the Bay Area and beyond. Watch the clip here.

ICYMI: Recent Media, Community Appearances by Eva Paterson