Discussing free speech at ABA annual meeting

  • by Kevin R. Johnson
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Last Friday, I traveled to San Francisco, the site of the 2019 American Bar Association Annual Meeting. The ABA Commission on Racial & Ethnic Diversity in the Profession asked me to participate on a panel discussion on “Suppressing Public Protest in America: Does Free Speech Matter Anymore?” We had a great group of participants, including civil rights attorney John Burris, trial lawyer and human inclusivity trainer and consultant Ellen (Ellie) Krug, and President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center Fatima Goss Graves.

I was able to discuss some of the pressing free speech issues on college campuses as well as some of the free speech issues affecting the immigrant rights movement.

We had a lively discussion of police violence protests, and the LGBTQ rights and “#MeToo” movements. It was great hearing from truly engaged activists.

I must admit that I feel a bit guilty that in talking with attendees, I bragged about the great new Class of 2022, the most diverse in our law school's history.