Dees: Youth Must Fight Ongoing Racism

Famed civil rights attorney Morris Dees spoke as part of the University's celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

Dees' talk included a discussion on race relations past and present, ways Americans can improve social conditions and the tolerance everyone needs to harbor.

He said that while the racial atmosphere in America has improved, some things still need to change.

"There is an ill wind blowing across our nation," Dees said. "I want to challenge students to help us. We've taken three steps forward and two steps back."

Police officers and security personnel surrounded the building and all individuals attending the event passed through a metal detector before entering.

Security was especially tight for the lecture because many organizations have strong feelings about Dees due to his litigation against various groups. Dees has filed claims against the Ku Klux Klan and the White Aryan Race for their violence against minorities, which has left many of them in bad financial situations.

Dees said hate crimes are indicative of how times are changing and cited the murders of James Byrd and Matthew Shepard as examples of people who were killed because of their race and sexual orientation, respectively.

Last year the FBI released figures stating that there were more than 1,000 hate crimes per month committed in the United States, Dees said. Dees also said there were 450 hate Web sites, up from one site in 1995.

Dees praised King's legacy by saying he tackled anything he saw as a problem and worked to bridge the gaps between different groups. "If (King) were here today, he would still have faith that we could solve the problems that divide us," Dees said. "When he talked of building bridges, he said they should be built from acceptance, understanding, friendship and love."

Dees expressed concern that students often live in the past by dealing with topics that no longer apply, instead of focusing on current topics such as health care, economic justice and homosexual rights.

He gained his unique perspective when he became an attorney and "had to go against the system" to help the poor whites and blacks he picked cotton with when he was younger. He said his original goals were not associated with civil rights law but his first clients shifted his focus.

While Dees said he does not agree with the people he puts on trial, he does not merely dismiss them. "I don't turn my back on those who have differing opinions," Dees said. "I think they have been led wrong, and education is the key."

An hour before Dees' speech, about 75 people held a candlelight vigil in the Pit featuring remarks about King. The group then marched to Memorial Hall while singing "We Shall Overcome."

"We wanted to do this to reflect and think about Martin Luther King," said Lindsey Wells, a representative from Campus Ministry Association who helped organize the vigil. "I think we need to consider what we need to do and how far we've already come."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu