WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) held two panel discussions.
His first panel, “Protect The Culture: Stopping the Assault on Black Voices, Talent, and Influence”, explored legislative pathways and industry strategies to end targeted assaults on Black voices, ensuring Black journalists can report freely, Black athletes are protected from plantation exploitation, and Black entertainers can create without fear of their work being weaponized against them.
The event was moderated by media personality Dr. Rashad Richey and included Georgia State Representative (D-108) and Democratic nominee for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, Dr. Jasmine Clark; respected journalist and author April Ryan; and Executive Director of Athletes.org, Brandon Copeland, as panelists.
“Music artists have their lyrics used as evidence in court against them,” said Congressman Johnson, who is the author of the RAP Act that would put guardrails on the use of lyrics in criminal prosecutions. “Journalists receive threats for telling the truth. Black athletes like Colin Kaepernick, who spoke by taking a knee for justice, are blackballed – which sends a message to keep your mouth shut.”
His second panel, Judiciary/Justice for All Braintrust, explored that if our democracy is to survive the delicate system of checks and balances that has undergirded our system for 250 years must be restored. Congressman Johnson is the author of several court reform bills, including requiring SCOTUS justices to adhere to a binding code of ethics, setting term limits for justices at 18 years and expanding the court from nine to 13 justices.
“Our democracy is under great threat,” said Congressman Johnson. “In my opinion, the greatest threat is not Donald Trump. It’s not the legislative branch under Republican control. It’s the Supreme Court. Our country was founded on the principles of three co-equal branches of government each operating as a check and balance on the other. This framework worked well for 250 years, but it’s being dismantled by the Supreme Court that is granting itself and the executive branch more power at the expense of the legislative branch.”
The panel discussion was led by moderator The Nation journalist Elie Mystal and included panelists Nikolas Bowie, Louis D. Brandeis Professor of Law at Harvard Law School; Michele Goodwin, Linda D. & Timothy J. O’Neill Professor of Constitutional Law and Global Health Policy at Georgetown Law; and Maya Wiley, President/CEO at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
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