Main Content
Federal judges in Minnesota joined hundreds of lawyers and community members at a recent courthouse event to raise awareness of disability rights.
The March event, “An Unfinished Journey: Civil Rights for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Role of the Federal Courts,” took place at the Diana E. Murphy Federal Courthouse in Minneapolis. The event included a free continuing legal education (CLE) class for lawyers, followed by a public reception that included an educational exhibit and an art show of work by artists with developmental disabilities.
“The true measure of a civilized and democratic society is how it treats those who are most in need and those who are most vulnerable,” said Judge Donovan W. Frank of the District of Minnesota, who also participated in the event. “A big reason disability discrimination continues, and a big reason why many people continue to stereotype people with disabilities, is because they have never met a person with a disability, and do not know them as I have had the opportunity to do. When that happens, the stereotypes will disappear, and we will all benefit.”
“We hope that our ‘Unfinished Journey’ project will end the silence of many and remind people that disability rights are civil rights. When that happens, discrimination and stereotypes will end and people with disabilities will receive ‘equal justice under the law.'”
The evening reception unveiled 20 educational banner displays about the history of disability rights in Minnesota and kicked off the court’s newest juried public art exhibit, “I AM.” The juried exhibit includes 15 pieces selected by federal judges and artists from the disability arts community. The evening also featured speeches and musical performances.
Visitors learn about the history of disability rights in Minnesota through a series of educational banners on display in the lobby of the Diana E. Murphy Federal Courthouse in Minneapolis. Photo by Stan Waldhauser
“This case illustrates how the U.S. government, including our courts, and the Minnesota state government, including our courts, have fulfilled their moral obligations to their citizens with cognitive disabilities,” said Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of the District of Minnesota, who spoke at the reception. “This is a story of triumph and tragedy, and a story whose ending is yet to be written.”
The trial was co-sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Minnesota Association of Disability Lawyers and MSS, a nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities.
The educational banners will be on display in the lobby of Murphy Courthouse until July 17, then travel to the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in St. Paul. The art exhibit will be on display from May 16 to July 18 at the federal courthouse in St. Paul.
“Sadly, people with developmental disabilities have been subject to unfair labels, stereotypes, institutionalization, mistreatment and abuse well into the 20th century,” said Becky R. Thorson, a former U.S. Magistrate Judge who helped organize the event. “Though progress has been made, the journey is not over. The goal of this exhibit is to educate and inspire others to complete the journey and ensure that people with developmental disabilities can thrive as vital and equal members of our community.”
Related Topics: Public Education