NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF YOUR FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO

On March 27th, the House Committee on Education and Workforce sent the President and Provost of Northwestern University a letter demanding information about Northwestern Law’s Community Justice Clinic and Professor Sheila A. Bedi for “engaging in progressive left political advocacy.” The political advocacy in question is the CJC’s commitment to upholding the ethical standard of representation for ALL people, including people who are poor, black and brown communities, and politically unpopular groups. Professor Bedi and the CJC are being unfairly targeted for upholding this golden legal ethic. 

This government overreach is not just a threat to Professor Bedi or Northwestern, it is a threat to academic and Constitutional freedoms everywhere. Students and instructors have the right to learn and work in an environment free from censorship and retribution. The government CANNOT punish professors or students for doing their job and upholding legal ethics. 

Using the resources on this website, you can support Professor Bedi, the CJC’s work and push back against government intrusions on the rights of the people and the freedom of lawyers to uphold these rights. We urge you to use these resources and Stand With Sheila against government overreach!

Letters of Support

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Sign on to Letter of Support for Professor Bedi

Professor Bedi, clinical professor at Northwestern Law, leads the Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic. Recent media reports have sought to disparage both her and her clinic, creating a false and harmful narrative of her work. We ask students and alumni to sign on to this letter to express their support of Professor Bedi and her clinic, and counter the demeaning messaging against her. As any student of hers can attest to, Professor Bedi is an inspiring professor, lawyer, and advocate. Her clinic, grounded in the principles of movement lawyering, has long championed and protected the rights of oppressed groups, and fostered community-led movements for change. Its impact on the school and community is invaluable. To demonstrate your support of Professor Bedi and her clinic, please fill out the form below for your name to be added to the end of the letter. You can read the full letter here.

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