Bond Schoeneck & King was proud to sponsor the Syracuse University College of Law Black Law Students' Association (BLSA) first Black History Month Celebration Dinner

The Syracuse University College of Law Black Law Students' Association (BLSA) hosted its first Black History Month Celebration Dinner. The event "Honoring the Past as We Look to the Future" honored William Herbert Johnson, Esq. Mr. Johnson was the first black graduate of Syracuse Law. Though Mr. Johnson excelled academically and had all of the requirements for admission, he was prohibited from practicing law in New York State based on his race. In October 2019, through the efforts of Syracuse Law Professor Paula Johnson and others, the Fourth Department Appellate Division of the State of New York posthumously awarded Mr. Johnson admission to the bar.  

The evening included a keynote address from Syracuse City Court Judge Vanessa Bogan as well as speeches from retired Syracuse City Court Judge Langston McKinney and retired Bond partner Henry Melchor. The evening also included poetry readings and a vocal performance by BLSA students. 

Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC was proud to sponsor the student run event which was attended by members of Mr. Johnson's family, students, community leaders, alumni, and practitioners as well as faculty and staff of Syracuse Law.