The Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) is inviting members to do more than read about one of the most consequential chapters in American history. The ISBA Civil Rights Tour, scheduled for February 10–14, 2027, offers a five-day journey through Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham, the cities where the Civil Rights Movement took shape and where the law played a defining role in the nation’s ongoing pursuit of justice.
Designed for the legal profession
This is more than a sightseeing trip. The Civil Rights Tour connects participants to landmark courtrooms, historic museums, and firsthand accounts from those who lived through the movement. Among the highlights is a special program on the legacy of Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr., held at the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, where he served. For Iowa attorneys and judges, it offers a powerful perspective on the profession’s role in the pursuit of justice.
Five days that trace the heart of the story
The journey begins in Atlanta at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights before continuing through Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham. Along the way, participants will visit cultural and historic landmarks such as the Rosa Parks Museum, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, each offering a distinct window into the movement’s legacy.
What the tour includes
The tour includes charter ground transportation, four nights of accommodations, select meals, admissions, guide services, and applicable taxes and hotel fees. Participants need only arrive in Atlanta, ready to begin the journey.
Why this trip matters to Iowa attorneys
The law did not stand apart from the Civil Rights Movement; it helped shape it. The attorneys, judges, and advocates who fought for equality in Southern courtrooms helped define the justice system we know today. Walking on those same streets, standing in those courtrooms, and hearing directly from those who lived through the movement offers a perspective on the profession and its responsibilities that no CLE program can fully replicate.
Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged.
Learn more and reserve your place today
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