Derechos y Esperanza – Rights and Hope: ASU Law Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative

Wendy Greene, the trailblazing Law Professor and Drexel Director of the Center for Law, Policy and Social Action (CLPSA), breaks down how grooming codes and court created distinctions between culture and "immutable: race have intersected to exclude workers with locs, braids, and other natural and protective African-descendent hairstyles, and the grassroots movement to expand our understanding of how race discrimination and create greater workplace fairness and opportunity.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

ASU Law Vice Dean and Charles J. Merriam Distinguished Professor of Law, and immigration law expert, Angela Banks and Rutgers Professor, Chancellor's Social Justice Scholar, and Founder of the Rutgers Center for Immigrant Justice Rose Cuison-Villazor join David Lopez to break down the Supreme Court's recent arguments on the birthright citizenship executive order, asylum and temporary protective status. These cases may seem complex but our experts explain the human consequences for these decisions and why merely taking these cases matters for impacted communities regardless of the ultimate outcome.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Prof. Lopez interviews Daniel Rodriguez, ASU Law alum and one of the leaders of the immigrants right youth movement and Abdi Lopez, CRMWLI Fellow who grew up in a farmworker family, candidly reflect on the range of emotions unleashed by the NY Times revelations, after five years of investigation, of child abuse and sexism during his time as President of the United Farmworker Movement, centering the victims but examining questions of complicity, the yearning for an individual leader even in collective struggles, broader patterns of abusive power by powerful men, and how this moment can strengthen the movement to give voice and power to farmworkers and others working in low-wage jobs.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Prof. Lopez continues the special series interviewing geographer Scott Warren, a resident of Ajo in the middle of the Sonoran desert and a migration route sometimes called the Devil's Highway due to the large number of migrant deaths discusses how the federal government has leveraged this beautiful but hostile landscape he loves so much through is prevention through deterrence policy, ultimately leading to federal harboring and smuggling charges for his humanitarian work, a two-year ordeal including the assertion of religious conscience defenses under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and finally his ultimate acquittal.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Prof. David Lopez and Elizabeth Reiner Platt start their discussion with Reverend Marilynn Budde's call for mercy at the inaugural prayer service, a large section of the inter-denominational faith community has become increasingly vocal about what they view as a harsh and punitive immigration system. Elizabethe Reiner Platt, Director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project, discusses the organization's recent report analyzing the legal landscape safeguarding religious conscience and observation in the face of state action.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Join Professor Lopez as he interviews legal labor law giant William Gould IV as they discuss his memoir "Those Who Travail and Are Heavy Laden: Memoir of a Labor Lawyer," a path that takes him to from New England, as the descendant of runaway slaves, to become the first Black law professor at Stanford Law School and the Chair of the National Labor Relations Board - along the way working to ensure organized labor integrated Black workers, working with the United Auto Workers, developing a lifelong friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and mediating the longest strike in major league baseball history. On the way, he explains how the law impacts March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament and his lifelong love affair with the Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Join Professor David Lopez as he interviews Noreen Farrell, executive director of Equal Rights Advocates, and Joi Chaney, board director of Equal Rights Advocates and founder of J.O.I. Strategies. The discussion highlights the importance of honoring the many women who have advanced equality and justice, challenged barriers, and reshaped culture. It also addresses ongoing challenges, including the gender pay gap and the persistent marginalization of low-wage workers. The conversation draws on examples from popular culture, including the Academy Awards and the manosphere.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Former Federal Judge Abdul Kallon shares with host Prof. David Lopez the story of his American Dream, immigrating from Sierra Leone as a child and finding his way to federal district court judgeship in Birmingham, Ala., replacing his mentor and icon William Clemons. He then discusses the Article III Coalition, a bipartisan group of federal judges dedicated to education and advocacy about the critical importance of judicial independence, democracy and separation of powers.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Prof. David Lopez interviews Hispanic National Bar Association President Rosevelie Marquez Morales as she traces her journey from Puerto Rico and the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn to a legal career focused on excellence, service to underserved communities, and expanding pathways for others. Marquez Morales describes the role of Aspira, a New York City community-based organization, in shaping her path and explains why fellow New Yorker Marc Anthony’s “Vivir Mi Vida” serves as her walk-up song.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Dr. Matthew Whitaker, executive director of Phoenix's George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, helps us remember the legacy of the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, reminding us also of the too often forgotten history of Black migration to Arizona, the rise and resistance to racial segregation in Phoenix and how it connects to broader issues nationally and globally. Plus, why Zapp's More Bounce to the Ounce, is the quintessential walk up song.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Why should not only lawyers be concerned with the "rule of law"? What we can do to ensure a fair and just legal system that serves our democratic values?Michelle Behnke discusses her journey from catholic school in Madison, Wisc. to the heights of the legal profession as president of the American Bar Association, the nation's oldest and largest organization of lawyers, working to combat threats to judicial independence and further access to justice. We learn this journey includes tenacity, vision and a great walk up song, Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

In this powerful episode of Derechos y Esperanza – Rights and Hope, former EEOC Chairs Jenny Yang (nominated by President Barack Obama) and Charlotte Burrows (nominated by President Joe Biden) reunite with professor David Lopez and program associate Abdi Lopez, to discuss their calling to civil rights and their paths to the EEOC. The conversation traces the EEOC's evolution from its founding as a legacy agency of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to its role defining equality in the modern workplace—from pioneering sexual harassment policy before #MeToo to securing Supreme Court recognition of LGBTQ+ workplace protections in Bostock v. Clayton County. Yang and Burrows reflect on the agency's bipartisan traditions, the career civil servants who form its backbone and their groundbreaking work on AI bias in hiring. Former Chairs Yang and Burrows then reflect on their proudest moments while addressing urgent concerns about the agency's future—and what gives them hope for equal opportunity in America. This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Jim Ko, intellectual property attorney and founder of the AI Rights Project, discusses the accelerated emergence of artificial intelligence as the civil rights issue of our time, taking us on a journey of the positive uses of AI but also the dangers it presents to the principle of non-discrimination, the protection of creative and scientific intellectual property, privacy, speech and due process.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Juan Cartagena reflects on his journey from aspiring musician to Columbia Law School and more than a decade leading LatinoJustice PRLDEF, one of the nation’s premier civil rights law organizations, before turning to the Supreme Court’s 2025–26 term to examine cases involving racial profiling, gerrymandering and potential challenges to birthright citizenship, as well as ongoing debates over Puerto Rico’s political status.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Part III is a bonus episode of Bad Bunny, the Super Bowl and the Law. Law professor Diego Alcala-Laboy, activist attorney Raquel Maldonado, Impacto AZ founder Jonathan Higuera and ASU law student Alondra Lopez Barrera examine Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance. The discussion explores its celebration of Puerto Rican and Latin culture, its reference to Puerto Rico’s colonial status and its challenge to conventional definitions of American identity. The episode also considers the role of joy and love during periods of social and political uncertainty.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Part II continues the conversation with ASU scholar-in-residence Luis Mendoza; Albany Law School professor Diego Alcala Laboy; San Juan-based lawyer and activist Raquel Maldonado Navarro; and ASU Law student and superfan Alondra Lopez Barrera, examining how controversy over the NFL’s decision to invite Bad Bunny to perform at the Super Bowl offers a broader learning moment. The guests discuss how the debate highlights Puerto Rico’s ongoing colonial status, the contradictions of U.S. citizenship and questions of language, belonging, gender and culture, while also diving into key legal cases and Bad Bunny songs — and what audiences might expect from his Super Bowl performance.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.Bad Bunny photo © Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Bad Bunny, the Super Bowl and the Law: Part 1 explores the global rise of Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny, tracing the genre’s Afro-Caribbean roots from Jamaica and Panama to San Juan’s La Perla, New York City and California’s Central Valley. The episode features ASU scholar-in-residence Luis Mendoza; Albany Law School professor and Ponce native Diego Alcala Laboy; San Juan-based lawyer, scholar and activist Raquel Maldonado Navarro; and ASU Law student and superfan Alondra Lopez Barrera, who together examine how reggaeton — and Bad Bunny — emerged as a worldwide cultural force.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.Bad Bunny photo © Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Jennifer Abruzzo traces her path to the labor movement and labor law, explains the historic role of an independent National Labor Relations Board in protecting workers’ right to organize, examines current threats to the agency’s viability — including a recently argued Supreme Court case that could reshape labor rights — and discusses her work to reimagine labor law and strengthen worker power, particularly in states like Arizona with historically low unionization rates.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Daniel Ortega, a double Sun Devil and nationally recognized civil rights activist, reflects on growing up in Phoenix and navigating a segregated public school system that held low expectations for Latino students, tracing his path to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and a career shaped by courtroom and community battles — including successful challenges to SB 1070 and Maricopa County immigration sweeps — while explaining how those fights built on earlier civil rights coalitions, sparked new community leadership and continue to matter today, alongside the music that inspires him and what gives him hope.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Fatima Goss Graves, a nationally recognized civil rights and gender justice leader, discusses her path to advocacy, the impact of recent government shutdowns and why the affordability of health care, housing and food remains a core civil rights issue, while also reflecting on the music that inspires her and the sources of hope that sustain her work.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.

Warren Stewart reflects on his journey to Arizona in the 1970s as a young minister, placing his work within the history of Black migration and human rights advocacy in the state, recounting his leadership in the six-year, multiracial campaign to secure recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday after its repeal and explaining how that victory empowered broader movements for justice, from later challenges to SB 1070 to ongoing activism, while also sharing the music that sustains him and what gives him hope.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.