Charles Blackburn

Charles Blackburn was a client in the marriage fairness lawsuit, Deane & Polyak v. Conaway. Charles was a minister and civil rights worker in Alabama in the 1960s. He was arrested and jailed for attempting to register African Americans to vote, and he participated in the March on Selma. This piece makes a real, living connection with the fight for civil rights, both past and present. Charles' story highlights the basic questions of human rights and human commonalities raised by civil rights issues generally. (Charles Blackburn, right, pictured with his partner Glen Dehn)

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Isaac Neal and Caroline Queale

Ike Neal (who talks to Caroline Queale) is a client in Thompson v. HUD, our lawsuit seeking remedies for decades of segregation in Baltimore’s public housing. Ike and Caroline did not start off as friends. In fact, Caroline was a key organizer opposing families like Ike’s from moving into majority white neighborhoods in Baltimore City as part of a plan to offer families in public housing access to diverse “communities of opportunity” in the Baltimore metro area. After a raucous and contentious community meeting back in the 1990s, Ike and Caroline met face-to-face in mediation. There, Caroline first saw beyond the media image of a “public housing family” and realized that she would have loved to have Ike and his family as neighbors. In a touching story, they have been friends ever since, and together have worked to provide housing opportunities with access to jobs and good schools for all families. (Ike Neal, right, pictured with his friend Caroline Queale)

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Ted & Mary Pugh

Ted Pugh (and Mary Pugh, his grandmother), a young student from Southern Maryland who stood up for the First Amendment when his teacher tried to force students to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Ted is a remarkable young man who, as a high school freshman, thoroughly researched the First Amendment and state and federal laws before contacting the ACLU. After coordinating with the Maryland ACLU, and with the strong support of his family, Ted finally sat down in class himself to test the system. He was then reprimanded by his teacher. Ted's “stand” for the First Amendment was a classic case of defending the principle of free expression for the benefit of all people. (Ted Pugh pictured at right)

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