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Washington State Minority and Justice Commission Symposium

The Washington State Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice Commission hosts its annual symposium, entitled “Reparations for African Americans.” Agenda: Welcome/introductions with Justice Mary Yu, Co-chair, Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, Carsen Nies, Seattle University School of Law, and Mynor Lopez, Seattle University School of Law; “Keynote Scholarship and Panel Discussion” with Professor Jamila Jefferson Jones, Wayne State University Law School, Professor Adjoa Aiyetoro, William H. Bowen School of Law, and Professor Eric Miller, Loyola Law School – Keynote scholars discuss the moral and economic necessity of reparations to Black Americans, and explore the implications on justice under law; “The History of Anti-Black Discrimination in Washington” with Dr. Quintard Taylor, University of Washington. Detailing the sweeping history of anti-Black discrimination in Washington State and the preceding territories. Professor Taylor will trace the unbroken lineage from the founding of the Washington Territory as a state exclusively for white people to modern day inequality and discrimination in Washington State; “Expert Grassroots Panel” – a roundtable discussion on the ways local groups around the state of Washington address the cause of Black reparations. The panel will explore ways that cultural, land-based and monetary reparations can advance equality in the state and justice under law and highlight some of the grassroots initiatives that advance reparations for Black Washingtonians. Panelists include K. Wyking Garrett, CEO, Africatown Community Land Trust; Judge LeRoy McCullough, King County Superior Court; TreAnna Holiday, Media Director, King County Equity Now; and Chardonnay Beaver, Journalist, The Facts.