Constance Baker Motley Speaker Series on Racial Inequality

Webinar
5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy, enabling the ordinary citizen to raise their voice to reflect the collective will of the American people. But can the promise that a vote represents be realized when voters are confronted with significant obstacles to exercising that right? For generations, Black voters and other voters of color have faced discriminatory policies and other obstacles that disproportionately affect their communities. These obstacles include limited polling places, long lines at the polls, voter identification laws, restrictive voting hours, and fewer opportunities to vote by mail.

Zoom
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

Webinar
5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

This panel discussion will dive deep into the history of discrimination in the Nutmeg State, looking at who was—and was not—permitted access to our public spaces. We will look at how this was effectuated through town ordinances, zoning, and caselaw. The landmark CT Supreme Court decision in Leydon v. Town of Greenwich will be central to this conversation. The panelists will also survey where we are currently.

Webinar
5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

When it comes to pretrial release decisions, we know that anecdotally, race appears a factor in determining who is held and who is released. But research in this area confirms that the plural of anecdote is indeed hard data—statistics demonstrate the stark racial disparities and practical realities of who is held pretrial. This panel discussion will explore that research, laying out the framework for these decisions as well as the risk assessment tools used as part of the calculation. And we’ll take it further—into how the limitations of these risk assessment tools lead straight to inequality in the ultimate outcomes for these cases, and whether there is anything in the process or at the state legislative level that we can do to fix it.

Webinar
5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

The institution of Affirmative Action methodologies and requirements moved undergraduate and postgraduate schools to consider qualified students of all races, ethnicities, and genders in admissions decisions, thereby reducing discriminatory admissions practices. Consequently, student enrollments have more closely reflected representations of qualified students in relevant applicant populations. The Supreme Court’s decisions in the cases Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina have ended affirmative action admission practices. How could the removal of affirmative action affect college and law school admissions? What efforts can be made to preserve the rights of all applicants against discriminatory admission selection practices? How can we preserve diversity, equity, and inclusion in university and law school student bodies?