Kiah Duggins: Remembering a Civil Rights Attorney Lost in DC Plane Crash

Kiah Duggins, a civil rights attorney and former Miss Kansas contestant, was among the 67 victims of the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C. She was returning from visiting her mother in Wichita, Kansas, and was preparing to teach at Howard University. Duggins was a Fulbright Scholar and Harvard Law graduate who fought for justice and equality.

Kiah Duggins, a dedicated civil rights attorney and former beauty pageant contestant, was tragically lost in the recent plane crash near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The crash, which involved an American Airlines passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulted in the deaths of 67 people, including Duggins and two other legal professionals, Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Keys.
Duggins, 33, was a prominent figure in both Wichita and Washington, D.C. She graduated from Wichita State University and Harvard Law School, where she served as the president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. Her work with the Civil Rights Corps focused on combating unconstitutional policing practices in various states, including Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
Before her untimely death, Duggins was preparing to begin a new chapter as a professor at Howard University. Her dedication to justice and equality inspired many, and her loss is deeply felt by her family, friends, and the broader community.
A friend and former Sedgwick County commissioner, Lacey Cruse, described Duggins as “a brave and beautiful soul, a light in the fight for civil rights.” Her legacy continues to inspire change and serve as a reminder of the importance of her work.

1. What was Kiah Duggins’ background?
   Kiah Duggins was a civil rights attorney who graduated from Wichita State University and Harvard Law School. She was a Fulbright Scholar and served as the president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.
2. What was Kiah Duggins’ role in the Civil Rights Corps?
   Duggins worked as a civil rights litigation attorney for the nonprofit Civil Rights Corps, focusing on combating unconstitutional policing practices.

3. What was Kiah Duggins preparing to do before her death?
   She was preparing to begin a new chapter as a professor at Howard University.

4. How did Kiah Duggins’ community react to her loss?
   Her community reacted with deep sadness and respect, with many acknowledging her bravery and dedication to justice and equality.

5. What is Kiah Duggins’ lasting impact?
   Her work and message continue to inspire and create change, ensuring her legacy lives on.

Kiah Duggins’ untimely death is a tragic loss for the legal community and the fight for civil rights. Her dedication, bravery, and commitment to justice will not be forgotten. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of her work and the impact one person can have on creating change.