Young Lawyers Division, Out in the Field with Civil Rights Movement Leaders

Members of the Young Lawyers Division marching the streets of Birmingham to launch their public service project: They Had A Dream Too.

The name Gwen Gamble might not ring a bell for many, but for the students of A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Ala., today, she was quite the star. In an event hosted by the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Gamble shared her remembrances as a youngster participating in the civil rights movement as part of the division’s annual service project, They Had a Dream Too.

Modeled after an initiative developed by the Texas Young Lawyers Association, They Had A Dream Too is a yearlong initiative that will provide educational information for 11^th- and 12^th grade students on the unrecognized roles of children in the civil rights movement to inspire them to become leaders in their own communities. Because of their ages, young lawyers are in a unique position to inspire other young people.

During her visit, Gamble shared not-so-fond memories of being arrested, tortured by dogs and sprayed with water hoses. Even as a young child, this did not deter her and others from sticking to their mission of seeking equal treatment under U.S. laws. The high school students at A.H. Parker indicated they were thoroughly impressed by all that those before them had endured, and promised to continue their legacy and then pass the torch.

Another visit was made to Vestavia Hills High School, where nearly 90 students sat in on a similar session. They, too, vowed to become active in their communities and to not let those, who had come before them, down.

Tomorrow, Oct. 23, YLD will officially roll-out the program at Birmingham’s Kelly Ingram Park, where they will retrace the steps of the historic Children’s March, honoring the legacies of several young civil rights participants, including Judge Helen Shores Lee, Doug Jones and John Martin.

For more information on bringing They Had a Dream Too to your city or local high school, please visit the Young Lawyers Division Web site.

The Young Lawyers Division

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is the home for young lawyers. With more than 150,000 members and 300 affiliated groups, the ABA YLD is the largest young lawyer organization in the world.