Leesburg To Host Movie Discussion With Thurgood Marshall Jr.

LEESBURG, VA — The Leesburg Diversity Commission is holding an online panel interview and discussion with Thurgood Marshall Jr. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 about his father and the movie "Marshall." The event is part of a series of community discussions on systemic racism in the community and across the nation.

Leesburg Town Attorney Christopher Spera, who is a University of Virginia law school graduate like Marshall, will provide an introduction. After the introduction, panelists will lead a discussion of the movie “Marshall” which chronicles his father, Thurgood Marshall Sr.’s early legal career.

Thurgood Marshall Sr. was the first African American Supreme Court Justice, appointed in 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson. Participants are invited to watch the movie “Marshall” on their own and join the interview live at 7 p.m. on Oct. 20 via WebEx.

Thurgood Marshall Jr. has practiced law, held senior government appointments, and serves on an array of corporate and nonprofit boards. He has represented witnesses and companies involved in congressional investigations and counseled clients engaged in public policy.

Spera became Leesburg town attorney in August. He previously served as vice president and general counsel for the Old Dominion Transportation Group and Transportation General Inc. in Northern Virginia. He also worked for more than a decade as the deputy city attorney for the city of Alexandria.

Panelists will include Spera, Diversity Commission Chair Pamela Butler, Maryland attorney and Loudoun NAACP Past President Phillip Thompson, conflict resolution practitioner and Loudoun NAACP Past Legal Redress Chair Tanja Thompson and members of the Leesburg Diversity Commission.

Participation in the online event is free, but spaces are limited. Register via Eventbrite at leesburg-diversity-commission-marshall-interview.eventbrite.com. Once registered, participants will receive the link to join the event.