Ben Crump

Renowned Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Produces Documentary ‘How to Sue the Klan’

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Ben Crump to Announce Lawsuit Against FL Gov. Ron DeSantis Over AP African American Studies Course

Highly acclaimed civil rights attorney Ben Crump takes on a new role as a producer for the impactful documentary How to Sue the Klan. Set to be screened during Black History Month, the film highlights the courageous endeavors of five Black women who confronted the Ku Klux Klan in a groundbreaking 1982 civil trial, ultimately emerging victorious.

Following a racially motivated mass shooting in Chattanooga, the women utilized the little-known Civil War-era Ku Klux Klan Act, securing a triumph that remains a model in the battle against racial violence today. How to Sue the Klan explores the use of legal strategies to combat such violence, focusing on a landmark trial that set a precedent, hitting the Klan where it hurt the most: in their bank accounts.

“‘How to Sue the Klan tells the grueling story of the brave women of the Chattanooga Five in their fight against injustice,” said Crump. “The film’s plot mirrors our modern times, as we still battle the ugly face of racism in our country with civil action. I am honored to be part of the outstanding team that made this film come to life and look forward to sharing it with the world.”

The documentary delves into the aftermath of the trial, the enduring legacy of the women who fought for justice, and the ongoing relevance of the Ku Klux Klan Act in today’s fight against organized hate. Crump’s involvement adds significance to the project, following his impactful work in the Netflix documentary “Civil,” where he fought for justice for the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Black farmers. How to Sue the Klan serves as a powerful call to action for attorneys and advocates to utilize civil rights tools, emphasizing the continued importance of the Ku Klux Klan Act in pursuing justice. The film is directed by Emmy®-nominated filmmaker John Beder, who is also a resident of Chattanooga.

Showings of “How to Sue the Klan” are set to take place throughout Black History Month and beyond, and several events have already been scheduled:

February 9: 6:00 pm ET, Chattanooga Premiere at the Walker Theater in Chattanooga, Tenn.

February 10: 4:00 pm PT, Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, Calif.

February 11: 1:15 pm PT, Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, Calif.

February 17: 4:00 pm ET, Chattanooga Downtown Library in Chattanooga, Tenn.

February 26: 6:00 pm ET, New York University in New York, N.Y.

February 27: 6:00 pm ET, Pace University in White Plains, N.Y. 

February 29: 12:30 pm ET, Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

February 29: 6:00 pm ET, Boston University in Boston, Mass.

The post Renowned Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Produces Documentary ‘How to Sue the Klan’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Renowned Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Produces Documentary ‘How to Sue the Klan’ appeared first on The Source.

Henreitta Lacks’ Family Announces Settlement for Her Stolen Cells on What Would Have Been Her 103rd Birthday

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Henreitta Lacks' Family Announces Settlement for Her Stolen Cells on What Would Have Been Her 103rd Birthday

On Henrietta Lacks’ 103rd birthday, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and the family of Henrietta Lacks will hold a news conference to announce a settlement. The lawsuit was filed against Thermo Fisher by Attorney Ben Crump and Attorney Chris Seeger of Seeger Weiss on behalf of the Estate of Henrietta Lacks in 2021.

The Lacks family also thanked U.S. Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Chris Van Hollen, and Ben Cardin for introducing legislation to honor Henrietta Lacks with the Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition acknowledges her significant contributions to medicine and the world.

Attorneys Crump and Seeger released the following statement to The Source:

“Members of the family of Henrietta Lacks and Thermo Fisher have agreed to settle the litigation filed by Henrietta Lacks’ Estate, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. The terms of the agreement will be confidential. The parties are pleased that they were able to find a way to resolve this matter outside of Court and will have no further comment about the settlement.”

The settlement indicates the first of many complaints involving compensation for Lacks’ “HeLa” cells, which were the world’s first that could be replicated outside the body. Lacks’ cells were taken while she received cervical cancer treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She would die months after the treatment as it was ineffective against her cancer.

Lacks’ cells were believed to need consent for the use, and according to The Baltimore Banner, Thermo Fisher Scientific officials believed the legal action was too late. Lacks’ cells were used to develop polio and COVID-19 vaccines, among other treatments.

The post Henreitta Lacks’ Family Announces Settlement for Her Stolen Cells on What Would Have Been Her 103rd Birthday first appeared on The Source.

The post Henreitta Lacks’ Family Announces Settlement for Her Stolen Cells on What Would Have Been Her 103rd Birthday appeared first on The Source.

Ben Crump to Announce Lawsuit Against FL Gov. Ron DeSantis Over AP African American Studies Course

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Ben Crump to Announce Lawsuit Against FL Gov. Ron DeSantis Over AP African American Studies Course

Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump will sue Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his ruling over the Advanced Placement African American Studies pilot program.

Crump will be flanked by leaders like the American Federation of Teachers and politicians to announce a lawsuit.

Meanwhile, DeSantis is standing firm in his decision, stating the course is a piece of a political agenda and as representatives of the state, they “want education, not indoctrination.”

According to NBC Miami, Gov. DeSantis sites the college course violates the Stop WOKE Act, which he signed last year. It forbids education that characterizes people as privileged or underprivileged depending on their race. At least some authors cited in the course believe that contemporary American society supports white supremacy while repressing racial minorities, homosexual people, and women.

“This course on Black history, what’s one of the lessons about? Queer theory. Now who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda,” said DeSantis.

The African American Studies course is being tested by the College Board at 60 high schools across the country following a decade of development. Once it has begun to roll out, neither a state nor a school would be obligated to offer it.

The post Ben Crump to Announce Lawsuit Against FL Gov. Ron DeSantis Over AP African American Studies Course appeared first on The Source.