Lee Merritt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Merritt
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Merritt in 2024
|
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Stacy Sylvester Lee Merritt
February 1, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education |
|
S. Lee Merritt (born Stacy Sylvester Lee Merritt) is an American civil rights lawyer and activist. He is well-known for his work on issues related to racial justice, which means making sure everyone is treated fairly, no matter their race.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Merritt was born on February 1, 1983, in South Central Los Angeles, California. When he was a child, his family moved to northern Florida.
He went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated with honors. After that, he studied law at Temple University’s James Beasley School of Law, finishing in 2012. While at Temple, he practiced arguing cases in a special program.
Career as a Civil Rights Lawyer
After college, Merritt worked as a teacher in Camden, New Jersey, through a program called Teach for America. This program places teachers in schools that need them.
After law school, Merritt started his career at law firms in Philadelphia. Later, he started his own firm, the Merritt Law Firm. This firm helps people who have been hurt by police brutality (unfair actions by police), official corruption (wrongdoing by people in power), unfair treatment by companies, and hate crimes (crimes motivated by prejudice). His firm is based in Philadelphia but helps people all over the country.
Helping Families Seek Justice
Merritt has worked on many important cases, helping families seek justice for their loved ones.
Deandre Harris Case
In 2017, Deandre Harris was attacked by several men after a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Merritt was his lawyer in this case.
Jordan Edwards Case
In 2017, Jordan Edwards, a 15-year-old, tragically died after being shot by a police officer in Balch Springs, Texas. Jordan was in a car leaving a party. Merritt represented Jordan's family.
Marlin Gipson Case
Merritt also represented Marlin Gipson. Marlin was arrested while handing out business cards for his lawn care service. He was wrongly thought to be a suspect in some local burglaries.
Atatiana Jefferson Case
In 2019, Atatiana Jefferson was tragically shot and killed in her home by a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas. Merritt was the lawyer for her family.
Ahmaud Arbery Case
Merritt is currently the lawyer for the family of Ahmaud Arbery. In 2020, Ahmaud was jogging in Brunswick, Georgia, when he was killed by two men. These men wrongly believed he looked like someone involved in local burglaries. Merritt, along with lawyers for the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, plans to bring this case to the United Nations. The United Nations is an organization that works for peace and human rights around the world.
Activism and Public Voice
Merritt is also an activist, meaning he works to bring about social change. In 2017, he spoke at a conference about mass incarceration. This refers to the large number of people in prison. He said that people must act to solve this problem.
After the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd in 2020, Merritt appeared on television many times. He spoke with Ahmaud Arbery's mother to highlight the bigger issues of racial bias in policing and in society.
In 2021, Merritt announced he would run for Texas attorney general. He said that Texas needed an attorney general who would protect everyone's rights. He later stopped his campaign in 2022 and supported another candidate.
Awards and Recognition
In 2017, Merritt was named No. 8 on The Root 100 list. This list honors the top 100 most influential African Americans in the country between the ages of 18 and 45. The Root described him as a new leader fighting for racial justice and making sure that "black lives matter."
