Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law hosted its 32nd annual Thurgood Marshall Symposium on Feb. 5. Antonio Ingram II, senior counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, was the keynote speaker.
In his lecture, Ingram addressed Alabama’s SB 129, which prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion in public colleges and universities. He explained the bill, discussed the legal frameworks behind the policies, and spoke to the constitutional questions they raise, particularly related to the First Amendment.
While SB 129 and related legislation have prompted discussion nationwide, the symposium created an academic environment for examining these issues through a legal and historical lens. Attendees were encouraged to reflect on how evolving laws shape institutions, communities and civic participation.
A graduate of Yale University and UC Berkeley School of Law, and a current fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, Ingram has worked on key matters involving voting rights, equal protection and educational access. His insights offered Cumberland students a valuable perspective from a practitioner deeply engaged in civil rights litigation and policy analysis.
Sponsored by Cumberland’s Civil Rights Law Center and Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the 2026 symposium continued its longstanding mission of honoring Justice Thurgood Marshall by fostering thoughtful, informed dialogue on civil rights, constitutional law and contemporary legal issues.
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