NBLSA Social Action Chair Serves on NBA Election Protection Panel

Washington, D.C. (August 18, 2010) - The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is always pleased to highlight the involvements and accomplishments of our members. This past week, our National Director of Social Action, Germaine Austin, was invited to serve as a panelist at the National Bar Association's (NBA) 85th Annual Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme of this year's convention was Standing on Shoulders, Keeping the Promise. As a panelist, Mr. Austin sat on an election protection panel to provide a law student perspective on voter rights and election protection issues in the minority community. Other panelists included Harold Franklin, Partner, King & Spalding L.L.P.; Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee; Kristen Clarke, Co-Director, Political Participation Project NAACP Legal Defense Fund; and Bradley Heard, Senior Attorney, Advancement Project. Mr. Austin offered the following insight during the panel discussion:

"While everyone has their eye on the presidential election in 2012, we must not forget that the mid-term election is equally important. A lot is at stake. The candidates for presidency in the 2012 election will be faced with a number of pressing issues, including the war on terror, the economy, and unemployment. As students, we must continue to fight as knights of social justice and encourage others to register, educate themselves, and vote. We must also protect the elections process to ensure that it is both fair and encouraging, and we must be inventive and strategic while doing so."

Mr. Austin's words are indicative of the sentiments of many students and individuals who are committed to preserving the unencumbered right to vote and protecting the Constitutional freedoms of our society. Information about election laws and election protection strategies and practice may be found on the NBLSA website at www.nblsa.org.

Press Contact:
Erica Washington
National Director of Public Relations
The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA)
publicrelations@nblsa.org

About The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA):

Founded in 1968, the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is a national, non-profit organization created and designed to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students; foster and encourage professional competence; focus upon the relationship of the Black attorney to the American legal system; instill in the Black attorney and law student a greater awareness of and commitment to the needs of the Black community; utilize member expertise to initiate a change within the legal system that will make it more responsive to the needs and concerns of the Black community; and do any and all things necessary and lawful in order to accomplish these goals.

NBLSA is the largest student-run organization in America and has approximately 200 chapters at law schools throughout the country. This represents almost every ABA accredited law school, plus several non-accredited law schools. These chapters represent nearly 6,000 Black law students in six regions that encompass 48 states including Hawaii and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Recently, NBLSA has established an international connection with Black law students in Canada, England, South Africa, and the Bahamas who have decided to model their student organizations after NBLSA.

back  |  printer-friendly version