Starts:

Tuesday February 24, 2026

    11:30 AM

Ends:

    2:00 PM

Join us for a special conversation exploring the life, legacy, and enduring influence of Rev. James Lawson Jr., a peer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and one of the principal architects of the nonviolent resistance movement that transformed the nation. This program brings together journalist Emily Yellin, the co-author of Lawson’s posthumous memoir, and his son John Lawson, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. Through reflection, conversation, and personal insight, they will examine Lawson’s 95 years of leadership in nonviolent social change and consider how his teachings continue to shape movements for justice today.

Often working behind the scenes, Rev. Lawson played a pivotal role in organizing the 1960 Nashville sit-ins and the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, while mentoring generations of leaders, including Rep. John Lewis and the Freedom Riders.

EVENT DETAILS:

• Remarks and Q&A, in-person and via Zoom.
• 11:30 a.m. cash bar opens, 12:15 p.m. lunch (optional), 1–2 p.m. program. Followed by book signing.
• $10 lecture or Zoom only, $30 members and $40 guests for lunch (plus tax).

Emily Yellin is a journalist, writer, and producer, and a longtime contributor to The New York Times. She is the author of two previous books and produced the 10-part video series “1,300 Men: Memphis Strike ’68” for The Root. She first met Rev. Lawson at the age of five while attending elementary school in Memphis with his eldest son, John.

John C. Lawson is a lawyer, judge, and the eldest son of Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. and Dorothy Lawson. He spent nearly two decades with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office before he was appointed a Los Angeles Superior Court judge in 2009. He has focused much of his career on juvenile justice, emphasizing rehabilitation, education, and second chances.

For non-member event reservations: please email pfitzgerald@democraticwoman.org or telephone 202-232-7363 Ext. 402 (voicemails will also be accepted).

*Please note: Guests, with the exception of members’ spouses and domestic partners, may attend a maximum of three paid events from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. After the third event, they must join the Club to continue attending events.* 

Please note: By attending a WNDC event, participants agree to being recorded and/or photographed, and the resulting assets may be used for promotional purposes. Should you wish not to be recorded or photographed, please notify a member of the WNDC staff on site.