About Us

The Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ) came into being to address the escalation of police killings in our community. Hundreds of Blacks and Latinos fell victim to police harassment, beatings, incarceration and killings. The impunity of the police outraged the community. One of many responses to this brutality came from a group of activists attorneys: Michael Warren, Alton Maddox, C. Vernon Mason and Esmeralda Simmons; the Revs. Herbert Daughtry and Timothy Mitchell; Father Lawrence Lucas and community activists: Dave Walker and Jitu Weusi.

CLSJ Staff and Alumni

They agreed to develop an institution committed to the lawful resistance of police brutality. Assemblyman Roger Green, along with his then chief of staff, Adeyemi Bandele, provided the initial funds from the state budget which were necessary to make the Center for Law and Social Justice a reality.

In later years, the Center received grants from the New York City Council, Foundation such as New York Community Trust, the Concord Baptist Church Christ Fund and other funding sources which enabled us to carry out our work.

Since its' inception, the Center's staff has consisted of activists/professionals from all walks of life. Their blend is unique in that they embodied the spirit and aspiration of the people we serve. The CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CLSJ) is a unit in the School of Professional and Community Development at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York.

The mission and vision of CLSJ is to provide quality advocacy, training, and expert services in a personal manner to people of African descent and the disenfranchised. CLSJ seeks to accompany its mission by conducting research, and initiating advocacy project and litigation on behalf of community organizations and groups that promote human, national, and international understanding.

CLSJ sponsors advocacy projects and litigation in areas as diverse as housing and employment discrimination, police and racial violence, public education, voting rights, immigration, and United States human rights violations. Because of its unique combination of research, public policy advocacy and litigation from a community-based perspective, CLSJ is a focal point for progressive activity.

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