DETROIT (June 14, 2011) - Wayne State University Law School's Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights is pleased to announce that the exhibit Marching Toward Justice: The History of the 14th Amendment will be featured at John Marshall Law School in Chicago June 15 through July 8. The exhibit coincides with the 105th annual convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the nation's oldest historically black fraternity. A grand opening reception is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22, from 5-7 p.m. in Room 3 East at John Marshall Law School.

The Honorable Damon J. Keith, LL.M. '56, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, also will be honored at the fraternity's convention.

Marching Toward Justice is part of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History, a central repository for the nation's African American legal history. The exhibit was created to inform the public about the fundamental importance of the 14th Amendment and our nation's ongoing quest to realize the high ideals of the Declaration of Independence. It tells the story of our government's promotion of justice and equality for some while condoning the enslavement of others. Since the inaugural exhibition at the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building in Washington, D.C., the exhibit has traveled to more than 30 sites, including locations in San Francisco; Chicago; Topeka, Kan.; Boston; Dallas and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

I. India Geronimo, director of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History and former law clerk to the Hon. Damon J. Keith, will be present June 15-17 to launch the exhibition in Chicago.

"The founders of Alpha Phi Alpha were visionaries, humanitarians and civil rights activists at a time of great challenges and importance," Geronimo said. "The Marching Toward Justice exhibit celebrates those who, like the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, broke ground in the belief that all are created equal. We are pleased the exhibit will be a part of this celebration and hope that law school students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends take the opportunity to visit."

Register for the grand opening reception at http://www.jmls.edu/events/062211Exhibit.asp.

Please contact Geronimo at (313) 577-6530 or igeronimo@wayne.edu for more information or to schedule the Marching Toward Justice exhibit in your community.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

For more information about Wayne State University Law School, visit law.wayne.edu.