Edward C. Lawson on "OPRAH WINFREY SHOW" - Police Brutality - Part 1/3

Edward C. Lawson was one of the greatest speakers and activists of the modern day civil right movement. In 1975, Edward Lawson, representing himself (known as pro se), brought a civil rights action against San Diego police chief William Kolender and others, taking the case through U.S. District Court and ultimately to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor.

This case is of historical importance not only because the California statute was voided, but also because it is one of the few examples of an ordinary citizen successfully representing himself all the way through the U.S. Supreme Court. Lawson received political support at the time from prominent Black leaders including Jesse Jackson, activist/comedian Dick Gregory, U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters D-Los Angeles, U.S. Congressman John Conyers D-Detroit, and others.

After his victory, Edward Lawson stayed active, helping, educating and supporting people with his profound knowledge and generous kind of nature. He died of pancreatic cancer in May 2011. Although, his voice still echos through time and space, whoever met him or had a chance to speak to him will remember him as one of the most charismatic and dynamic people that ever walked on the face of this earth.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Oprah
• PoliceBrutality03