News Archive

Members of the extended IU McKinney community—including law students, professors, alumni, attorneys and their families—gathered on the lawn at Inlow Hall to call for action and a renewed push for racial equality at an event on Friday, June 19.

Indianapolis lawyers Shelley Jackson, ’07, partner at Krieg DeVault, Tonya Bond, ’04, and Ryan Leagre, ’14, partners at Plews Shadley Racher & Braun, formed the Indy Lawyers for Black Lives organization and planned the Juneteenth event, highlighting the important roles attorneys play in fighting systemic racism and racial injustice. They were assisted by IU McKinney Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion Patricia Kinney, ‘02.

“Lawyering is our super power,” Jackson told the crowd. “We want every person here to commit to getting involved and using your lawyer super powers to help solve the problem of systemic racism and racial injustice.”

The new organization—and the event at the law school—came together within two weeks and immediately found support in the Indianapolis legal community. Speakers from the law school, the Marion County Bar Association and Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David, ’82, made specific “asks” to speak up, show up and take action.

Indianapolis attorney Mark Nicholson, ’08, observed that “we can do a better job of showing the world that Black lives matter.” During his remarks, he urged the attendees to kneel (shown in the photo at right) in recognition of the Black lives that have been lost due to police misconduct. Attorney Howard Stevenson, ’93, talked about his journey in law school and called for his fellow lawyers to mentor minority students.

Doneisha Posey, '14, Executive Director of Employee Diversity, Equity and Belonging at Ivy Tech Community College, urged individuals to join the efforts of the Marion County Bar Association.

“Work with us as we educate our communities about their rights,” she said.

IU McKinney Student Bar Association President Bre Robinson (3L, in the photo above at left) reminded the crowd why many had come to law school—to make a difference.

“As lawyers we have the power to truly help people and make change in this country,” she said. “This is a movement, not a moment. Even when you are tired, the work must continue.”

Chaka Coleman, (2L) vice president of IU McKinney’s Black Law Students Association, spoke about potential in “students who look like me. Hire, promote, befriend and mentor Black,” she urged.

Read more of the speakers’ remarks online at lawyersforblacklives.com.

Coverage of the event appeared in the Indianapolis Star and the Indiana Lawyer.