Congratulations to 2017 National Lawyers Guild Unsung Hero
RHONDA KELSO
The Flint Water Class Action Team congratulates Rhonda Kelso for being a fierce and courageous warrior in the fight to get justice for the people of Flint.
Flint Water Class Action Law Office & Resource Center 1176 Robert T. Longway Blvd, Flint, MI 48503 (248) 658-0020 www.flintwaterclassaction.com
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2017 Sustaining Members
Special Thanks to . . . The 2017 Annual Dinner Committee
Erick Williams Gerald Evelyn Ronald Reosti
2017 Honorary Hosts Elizabeth Cabot W. Otis Culpepper Jack Shultz John F. Royal & Marilyn Morehead
Kathleen Garbacz (Chair) Curtis McGuire (Staff ) Pamela Wall Bill Goodman Shaun Godwin Kathy Murphy Hannah Fielstra Channing Robinson-Holmes
. . . and . . . “2016 in Action” Photographers Shanna Merola Curtis McGuire
The Detroit and Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild Thanks You!
National Lawyers Guild Detroit & Michigan Chapter 2017 Board Members John Royal – President
Dennis Black
Vanessa Fluker
Kathy Murphy
Julie Hurwitz - Vice President
Deb Choly
Bill Goodman
Tonya Phillips
Liz Cabot – Secretary
Sarah Coffey
Denise Heberle
Pamela Wall
Shaun Godwin – Treasurer
Desiree Ferguson
Nicholas Klaus
Elizabeth Young
Additional thanks to:
All of our attendees and advertisers for your commitment to justice and support for the National Lawyers Guild Detroit & Michigan Chapter. NLG Detroit & Michigan • 2017 • 3
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2017 Unsung Hero
Rhonda Kelso Rhonda Elaine Chisum-Kelso was born in racially segregated St. Louis, Missouri, but was raised and educated in Flint, Michigan. She retired from Flint Community Schools as Administrative Secretary. Kelso received her Associates Degree in Science from Mott Community College. She is a recovering stroke survivor and mother of four, with a special needs child. Kelso was an undercover ‘Water Warrior’ fighting for her daughter and other residents in the city of Flint. In this capacity she was able to help Melissa Mays and other residents find those responsible for the Flint Water Crisis. Kelso was thus able to expose those responsible and hold them accountable for the Environmental Racism and Financial Violence which exposed 100,000 people to sickness and death from water borne illness including Shigella and Legionnaires disease. Her cover is now blown.
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In loving memory of our long-time law partner and dedicated NLG member
M. Jon Posner (1943-2017)
Jonny’s passionate commitment to the struggle for social justice and human dignity will always inspire us.
Ken Mogill and Margie Cohen
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Solidarity with Standing Rock. Detroit, MI. Photo by Shanna Merola.
In these dark days, we take inspiration and leadership from the Guild’s Honorees: Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson Rhonda Kelso Student Honorees: Hannah Fielstra Matthew Larson Holland Locklear Henry Schneider We also find hope and strength in remembering the work of the Detroit Chapter of the NLG for the defense of the Attica Brothers.
Haywood Burns, Ernie Goodman, Shango Bahati Kakawana and Linda Borus standing outside “D Yard,” Attica Prison – 1975 “Attica means … fight back!” In that spirit, we today commit to fight back harder.
Goodman & Hurwitz, P.C.
Bill Goodman, Julie Hurwitz, Kathryn Bruner James, Nick Klaus, Huwaida Arraf, Anneliese Failla, Kara Sullivan, Karene Meneses, Hannah Fielstra, Daniel Fryer
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Rebuild Flint March. Flint, MI. Photos by Curtis McGuire NLG Detroit & Michigan • 2017 • 23
Standing Rock, ND. Photo by Curtis McGuire
Standing Rock, ND. Photo by Shanna Merola
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Solidarity with Standing Rock. Detroit, MI. Photo by Shanna Merola.
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Anti Trump Protest. Detroit, Mi. Photos by Shanna Merola
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Caine Tuiasosopo, PLLC 24901 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 122 Southfield, MI 48075
Macie Tuiasosopo Managing Partner (248) 733-3378 macie@cainetui.com
PROBATE & FAMILY LAW
RNC. Cleveland, OH. Photos by Curtis McGuire NLG Detroit & Michigan • 2017 • 27
JOANN WATSON
For a life-‐time of work in support of human rights for all,
&
2017 Outstanding Law Students
Hannah Fielstra, Matt Larson, Holland Locklear & Henry Schneider Future attorneys on the side of people,
www.SugarLaw.org Detroit,MI @SugarLawJustice
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2016 ‘Law for the People’ NLG Convention. New York, NY. Photos by Shanna Merola and Curtis McGuire NLG Detroit & Michigan • 2017 • 29
Anti Trump Protest. Detroit, MI. Photo by Curtis McGuire
D15 Protest. Detroit, MI. Photo by Curtis McGuire
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Anti Trump Protest. Detroit, MI. Photo by Curtis McGuire
Eviction Defense. Detroit, MI. Photo by Shanna Merola
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Constitutional Litigation Associates joins in saluting JoAnn Watson Rhonda Ron Scott andand Selma GoodeKelso “Now more than ever . . . .” How many times have we said that? From the Black Panthers and the Public Housing Thanks to our Honorees, our activist community and ALL our Rent Strike in 1968 and all of the struggles until 2015, NLG Detroit and Michigan Members for what you will do Ron Scott was our friend and comrade. Today, we salute in the coming days and years. him. And we thank Selma Goode for her lifetime of Special shout out to our awesome law clerks Henry and Holland! advocacy.
Of Counsel:
Hugh "Buck" Davis Cynthia Heenan
Shaun Godwin Scott Mackela John C. Philo
Constitutional Litigation Associates, P.C. 450 W. Fort St, Suite 200 Detroit, MI 48226 Telephone: 313-961-2255 info@conlitpc.com
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D15 Protest. Detroit, MI. Photo by Curtis McGuire
Eviction Defense. Detroit, MI. Photo by Shanna Merola NLG Detroit & Michigan • 2017 • 33
Republican National Convention. Cleveland, OH. Photo by Curtis McGuire
NLG Movie Night. Detroit, MI. Photo by Curtis McGuire
Republican National Convention. Cleveland, OH. Photo by Curtis McGuire
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#F17 ON FEBRUARY 17TH THE LEGAL COMMUNITY IS STRIKING BACK
At 1 PM on Friday, Feb. 17, Lawyers, legal workers, law students, paralegals, court interpreters, investigators, social service advocates, and others who work in the courts will gather in front of courthouses across the country in coordination with the nationwide General Strike planned for the same day. This is an opportunity for the legal community to express our solidarity with the growing movements against the new regime and its white supremacist agenda. Join the Detroit and Michigan Chapter of the NLG at the Eastern District of Michigan Court in Detroit on February 17th at 1pm. Located at 231 W. Lafayette Blvd. Detroit, MI 48226.
#LawSTRIKESBACK #GENeRALSTRIKE #F17 Co-Sponsored by the Center for Constitutional Rights (ccrjustice.org); #Law4BlackLives (law4blacklives.org); People’s Law Office (peopleslawoffice.com); The Sugar Law Center (sugarlaw.org); National Conference of Black Lawyers - Michigan Chapter (ncbl.org)
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