“Fighting Injustice: A Lifelong Struggle To Do The Right Things”
A Zoom Conversation with Civil Rights Lawyer and Activist Eric Seitz ’65 (pictured above)
After graduation, how do Oberlin graduates apply the values and idealism developed during their student years to change the world and have a meaningful career and life? What can we learn from the inspiring examples set by alumni at a time when democracy, human rights and human dignity are under assault by the government?
Eric Seitz ’65, a civil rights attorney now based in Honolulu, is the quintessential Oberlin activist whose career has been guided by a commitment to the pursuit of fairness and justice. Across his career, he has challenged the establishment and represented all categories of political activists, including members of the Black Panther Party, the Chicago Seven, and Leonard Peltier the Native American political activist who was at the center of a nearly 50-year-long controversy surrounding the killings of two FBI agents at South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1993. While studying law at UC Berkeley, Eric counseled and assisted draft resisters and taught courses to lawyers and law students on the draft and military law. At Oberlin, Eric majored in Government and recalled how he was a firebrand advocate during his time as an Oberlin student, even prompting President Carr to send a note suggesting he might be happier at another school. Eric praises Oberlin’s liberal arts mission and regards the overall educational experience at Oberlin to have been pivotal in shaping his lifetime career pathway.
The DC Club has specially selected Eric to lead the last Zoom program of the year. Join the conversation as Eric shares experiences from his career and encourages us to remain hopeful.
