Page 2 - Michael Figures News Today

While there appeared to be progress, we had the reminders of racialized violence, of murder, of lynching, and we see it most clearly with the murder of michael donald. >> my uncle thomas figures and my father, michael figures, they worked incredibly, incredibly hard to ensure that justice was served in the criminal case. they both knew that that was not going to be enough. the klan was just as much of a threat as it was before the criminal case. and thats when my father teamed up with the morris...

Suspected were klan members, but very few of them were actually apprehended. i thought to myself, if i ever get an opportunity to get on the other side of the fighting those that did it, id do it in a minute. i decided id go down to mobile and watch michael donalds criminal trial. i wanted to know everything i could. >> so following the criminal trial, thats when my father, michael figures, and morris dees teamed up to bring a $10 million civil suit against the klan. >> morris dees came and he t...

The state is one of nine with a female governor and has elected its first female U.S. Senator. But women will make up only 17 percent of the Legislature next year. Alabama ranked 47th in female state legislators in 2022.

Would not rest until the case was resolved and justice brought for her son. >> my father was one of the first african american students to attend university of alabamas law school, becoming the first black lawyers to be educated in the state of alabama. >> we would go to michael figures office and talk to him. well, what do you want to do? that was what when was telling my mom. what do you want to do? >> this is something thats understood by all black americans. no matter where you lived or how ...

Your history, then youre unable to understand the moment were in and the direction that we can continue to go in if we dont stop. >> lynching became a tool used by both white citizenry as well as law enforcement, to control and oppress black people. while there appeared to be progress, we had the reminders of racialized violence, of murder, of lynching, and we see it most clearly with the murder of michael donald. >> my uncle, thomas figures and my father, michael figures, they worked incredibly...

>> it was really depressing. it was really -- it was really -- you couldnt eat, you couldnt think of nothing else because our life had just come to a stand still. the mobile police department, they sat on it. and they would just call and say we hadnt forgotten you, ms. donald. were still working on the case. okay. do something about it. >> michael figures was mrs. donalds attorney. he went there to express his condolences and to offer his help in any way that he could and to let her know that he

First two episodes aired Sunday, last two coming April 18.

Inside the case that bankrupted the Klan elisfkc2 / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 At first, Cecelia Perry thought she knew what happened to her younger brother when he failed to return from a late-night trip to a service station on March 20, 1981. Nineteen-year-old Michael Donald was thoughtful and responsible — working at night and watching Perry’s oldest son during the day. He’d been with Perry at another sister’s home in Mobile, Alabama, when he stepped out around 11 p.m. to pick up cigare...