5-Year Review

5-Year Review

Inspired by the legacy of former Howard University School of Law Dean Charles Hamilton Houston and his mentee the first Black Supreme Court Justice, the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center continues the practical legacy of “social engineers”.  The center has committed to addressing the most critical human and civil rights issues since its inception. Guided by the philosophy of  heads (scholarship), hands (Lawyering work), and  heart (community connections), social justice and movement lawyering are sustained priorities. 

The center provides a nexus for Howard Law students, advocacy organizations, and impacted people to converge efforts on social justice issues. Whether through hosting informative panels, screening issue based documentary films, or providing legal support to movement organizations TMCRC is working to push civil rights forward. 
 

Major Projects

Justice for Garvey

Justice for Garvey

In 1923  Jamaican born revolutionary figure, Marcus Garvey, was convicted on unmerited mail fraud charges. The posthumous exoneration of Garvey is important to tell the truth about political trials of black leaders. To learn more about the scholarship and advocacy TMCRC is using, follow the link.

The Exoneration of Marcus Garvey

Mike Brown's mother, from Ferguson, discussing our work with the Mike Brown Foundation.

THE HILL: Traffic stops should not be deadly, DC can lead the way

Executive Director Justin Hansford joins TMCRC Staff Attorney Maggie Ellinger-Locke to write an article for The Hill Magazine to discuss reimagining the role of police in traffic stops in the wake of the fatal police attack against Tyre Nichols.

Traffic stops should not be deadly, DC can lead the way

Executive Director Justin Hansford speaks on MSNBC

Executive Director Justin Hansford joins MSNBC to discuss the long-term mental health impacts of police violence on the witnesses in the Derek Chauvin trial and the Black community at large.

Executive Director Justin Hansford speaks on MSNBC

H.R.8914: The Helping Families Heal Act

In October 2018 Lezley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown who was killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. in 2014, partnered with the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center at the Howard University School of Law.

The focus of her work with the center involved passing legislation that provided mental health services to families and communities affected by police violence. The efforts of this partnership resulted in the introduction of the Helping Families Heal Act.

Learn more about TMCRC's advocacy of this bill on Congresswoman Cori Bush's web…

Matulu Shakur Petition

Matulu Shakur Petition

Dr. Mutulu Shakur, step father of rapper Tupac Shakur, was an activist serving a prison sentence for involvement in a 1981 robbery that resulted in the deaths of two officers and a guard. The center advocated for his compassionate release during the last year of his sentence based on his terminal cancer prognosis. Dr. Matulu Shakur was released in November 2022 and passed away in July 2023.

The Justice Initiative

The Justice Initiative

In 2020, TMCRC collaborated with Harvard University School of Law to create a social justice curriculum for law students nationwide. Through weekly seminars with expert movement lawyers and activist and project collaborations, we are building a generation of justice centered lawyers beyond the campus of Howard University School of Law.

The Justice Initiative

Campaign Against Anti-CRT

Campaign Against Anti-CRT

Public attacks and misrepresentation of Critical Race Theory has resulted in harmful action that seeks to target teacher ‘These are the facts’: Black educators silenced from teaching America’s racist past | US education | The Guardians, eliminate black history and authors from schools (Black Authors Are Being Pulled From School Libraries Over Critical Race Theory Fears (newsweek.com), and even suppress divine 9 greek organizations on college campuses (Why the Divine 9 must keep attacking Florida's awful HB 999 (msnbc.com) ). Partnered with several organizations, TMCRC has worked to combat anti-CRT laws and policies.

TRUTH BE TOLD | AAPF

Movement Lawyering Conference - Advancement Project

Movement Lawyering Conference - Advancement Project

In collaboration with the Advancement Project and Law for Black Lives, The centered hosted the inaugural Movement Lawyering Conference. The October 2019 convening addressed issues such as organizing around voting rights, natural disasters, the prison industrial complex and migration.

Movement Lawyering Conference - Advancement Project - Advancement Project

African-American Redress Network

African-American Redress Network

This collaboration with The School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia has led to the mapping and support to local racial reparations efforts. Communities like Brown Grove, Va and Africatown, AL.

 African-American Redress Network

Student Work

Student Work

Timeline Review

TIMELINE Review ( End of Year Reports | Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center (howard.edu) )

2018

  • Center established by Howard University School of Law Dean Dainelle Holly
  • Terrance Gamble v. United States of America amicus brief
  • Brief in support of prohibiting ICE from using DACA information in deportation actions

 

2019

 

2020

  • Request to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights  for a hearing on structural racism and police violence 
  • Hosted  ‘We Are The Rising Majority” featuring“The Squad”: Congressional Representatives Alexandria Ocazio-Cortez, Rhashida Talib, Ayanaa Pressley, and Ilhan Omar. 
  • McKesson v. Doe amicus brief
  • Legal Observer Training (over 200 participants)
  • Protester Arrest FOIA
  • White paper on unequal impact of Covid-19
  • Filed injunction against unconstitutionally imposed curfews in DC and New York 
  • Reimagining Police Stops Workshop Series
  • Life After Release criminal justice reform advocacy
  • United Kingdom  Affidavit to prevent release of arms to U.S. 

2021

  • Prison Censorship Report
  • OACHR submission to United Nations High Commissioner on behalf of Mike Brown’s Family 
  • Submission to the 8th Circuit in support of Marcus Mitchell’s constitutional rights at the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2017 in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
  • White paper on how police brutality affects mental health in the Black Community
  • Brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of the First Step Act of 2018. 
  • Screening of ATTICA, a documentary on the 1971 prison uprising. 
  • TMCRC student attorneys and interns participate in Critical Race Theory (CRT) Summer School CRT Summer School Video 2021 on Vimeo 

2022

  • United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent launch for civil society at International Student House
  • Brazilian Congresswoman Renata Souza visits Thurgood Marshall Center
  • TMCRC hosts Reparations Conference 2022
  • TMCTC Hosts United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racism and Discrimination (CERD) Review of Human Rights Cities
  • CRT hotline
  • TMCRC hosts community reparations event
  • Litigation support for Concerned Black Clergy v. Raffensperger,
  • Black Swan Academy collaboration 

2023

  • Legal support to protest of Cop City 
  • Tracks and curbs advancement of state-level anti-protest legislation 
  • TMCRC hosts Earth Day Panel 
  • IACHR briefs on behalf of Rekia Boyd and Mike Brown
  • Police Free Schools Coalition 
  • Oklahoma amicus brief regarding anti CRT law
  • Collaboration on the Stop Police Terror Project 
  • Report on specialized units in police departments