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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 that's when my father teamed up with the morris dees. >> after law school in 1960, when i got to practice in law, there were a lot of violent acts...

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, i'd do it in a minute. i decided i'd go down to mobile and watch michael donald's criminal trial. i wanted to know everything i could. >> so following the criminal trial, that's 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 talked to my mother. he says, i'm going to get everything that you want for you, mrs. donald, bec...

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 alabama's 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 that's understood by all black americans. no matter where you lived or how you lived, you understood that law enforcement had never been created honestly to protect you. it...

Your history, then you're unable to understand the moment we're in and the direction that we can continue to go in if we don't 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, incredibly hard to ensure that justice was served in the criminal case. they both knew that tha...