In the aftermath of the 2020 election cycle, and on the heels of a historic racial justice movement, GOP lawmakers have responded to the political mobilization of communities of color with legislative reprisals. For instance, in response to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations following George Floyd’s murder, Republican legislators introduced more than 80 anti-protest bills in 34 states during the 2021 legislative session. Similarly, after historically marginalized communities delivered Democratic victories, Republican lawmakers introduced 361 bills to restrict voting rights in 47 states during the first three months of this year. Moreover, in retaliation to demands for social change and racial equality, GOP lawmakers also proposed laws to restrict education on racism and bias. Our panelists discuss these distressing developments and necessary policy responses.

Welcome:
- Reginald M. Turner, Jr. – President, American Bar Association; Member, Clark Hill PLC
- Twanda Turner-Hawkins – Chair, ABA Coalition on Racial & Ethnic Justice
- Dr. Luke Charles Harris, Deputy Director & Co-Founder, African American Policy Forum
- Beth K. Whittenbury – Chair, ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Speakers:
- Deborah N. Archer – President, American Civil Liberties Union; Professor of Clinical Law, New York University School of Law; Co-Faculty Director, Center on Race, Inequality & the Law; Co-Director, Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Program, New York University School of Law
- Dr. Sumi Cho, Director of Strategic Initiatives, African American Policy Forum
- Gerald Torres – Professor of Law, Yale Law School; Co-Founder, Critical Race Theory
- Wendy R. Weiser – Vice President, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice
- Engy Abdelkader (Moderator) – Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law; Council Member, ABA Civil Rights & Social Justice Section; Member, ABA Coalition on Racial & Ethnic Justice; Fellow, American Bar Foundation