| Morris Dees shares tales to promote equality |
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| Written by Arionne Wells, The Shorthorn staff | ||||
| Wednesday, 07 October 2009 11:01 PM | ||||
  The 33 News photojournalist Michael O’Donnell, not pictured, interviews Morris Dees, Southern Poverty Law Center co-founder and chief trial counsel, during a press conference Wednesday at the University Center Carlisle Suite. Dees later spoke to a full house in the UC Rosebud Theatre about racial discrimination in the past and present. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran) Civil rights attorney Dees stressed that intolerance and disrespect stemmed from subconscious bigotry during his lecture Wednesday night to a crowd of roughly 500 students, faculty and staff in the University Center Rosebud Theatre. Dees said he shed some tears the night President Barack Obama was elected - but said the love fest the nation had “has now turned into a bloodbath.” Dees said there are people who do not believe that an African-American citizen is fit to lead the country. He referenced the interruption of Obama’s congressional address about health care when Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., pointed at the president and shouted, “You lie!” The Southern Poverty Law Center co-founder intertwined stories from the Bible, the struggle of Martin Luther King Jr. and from his life into his address that lasted nearly an hour. Security heightened for civil rights attorney lectureSecurity for the Diversity Lectures event was tightened by request of speaker Morris Dees, said Rick Gomez, UTA Police assistant chief. Gomez said the biggest change to security was using metal detectors. He said it is the second time the metal detectors have been used in the three and a half years he has been at UTA. UTA Police would offer the same security for any major event, Gomez said. “We are taking necessary precautions to make sure this is a successful event for the people who are putting this on,” he said. UTA Police also searched belongings such as purses. - Ali Mustansir, The Shorthorn senior staff His teacher, Vera Belle Johnson, who taught in a three-room schoolhouse in Shorter, Ala., encouraged him to be a good person overall. Ms. Johnson, as he referred to her, taught her students to use restraint against vices — especially drinking. Dees recalled the day he challenged her with the story of Jesus turning water into wine. “Yes, Morris,” she retorted. “But we would have thought more highly of Jesus if he hadn’t done that.” Equally memorable to Dees were Johnson’s efforts to convince her pupils of the value of the words: “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” “She wanted us to grow up to be good people,” Dees said.  Eunice Currie, assistant vice president for human resources management and development, reacts Wednesday at the UC Rosebud Theatre as Morris Dees’ describes his experience when working on a case with discriminated Vietnamese fishermen. Currie said she was very familiar with his work and teaches a Welcoming Diversity course at the university. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran) He said that this generation has the duty to bridge the divide that separates the wealthy and the poor. Psychology graduate student Wen Cheng said the speech was cool. “I think that more minorities should be in the fold versus the majority, sooner rather then later,” she said. Students like Cheng were among those who stayed after the lecture for the book signing. Dees book, A Lawyer’s Journey: The Morris Dees Story, sold out at before the lecture began, said Multicultural Affairs director Leticia Martinez. Dees said that while he doesn’t have the magic formula for equality, a key is to respect and love one another.  Morris Dees signs a copy of his book, A Lawyer’s Journey: The Morris Dees Story, for Keisha Ware, Attorney for the Students, Wednesday at the UC Rosebud Theatre. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran) Eddie Freeman, Equal Opportunity Services director, echoed Dees sentiment. “I learned the struggle is not over,” Freeman said. “The opposition President Obama faces is a big distraction for us all, and unless we can pull together we have a long way to go.” Views: 447 | E-mail
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