Space Structure
- 2021 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference

2021 Conference Videos

Friday, January 15

Conference Opening and President's Address

	Benediction by AFGE President Everett Kelley. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre and Steelworkers International Vice President Fred Redmond welcome the attendees. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka delivers remarks, urging us to push ourselves and society forward.

Keynote Address & Closing Remarks

	A poem by Shanna Peeks (UMWA) opens the afternoon session. NAACP President Derrick Johnson delivers the keynote address and takes questions from attendees, moderated by April Sims, Washington State Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer. Tefere Gebre wraps up day one of the conference.

Saturday, January 16

Day Two Conference Opening and Plenary

	Benediction by Regena Thomas (AFT). AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler opens day two of the conference. Plenary on how Black women saved our democracy and how all women can help carry the load.

Virtual Award Ceremony and Conference Closing

	A virtual awards ceremony honoring: Stacey Abrams, Helen Butler, Rebecca DeHart, AFT Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus Dr. Lorretta Johnson, Deborah Scott, Nsé Ufot, and the Labor Coalition for Community Action. Tefere Gebre's remarks to close out the conference.

Issue Forums

Building Power From the Ground Up: What to Know About the Census and Redistricting

	Cecelie Counts, AFL-CIO Madiba K. Dennie, Brennan Center for Justice Beth Lynk, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Renata Strause, AFL-CIO

Radical Progress: Building the Beloved Community Within the Labor Movement

	Claude Cummings, Jr., Communications Workers of America Montserrat Garibay, Texas AFL-CIO Tracy Lai, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Jeremy Lannan, AFGE Wilf Sullivan, Trades Union Congress

COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know

	Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, Black Coalition Against COVID Shanna Peeks, Mine Workers Maneesh Sharma, AFL-CIO Dr. Reed Tuckson, Tuckson Health Connections, LLC

Big Flipping Deal: Field Notes from Arizona and Georgia

	Carlos Garcia, Phoenix City Council Member Betty Guardado, Phoenix Vice Mayor Kellie Morgan, Painters and Allied Trades Deborah Scott, Georgia Stand-Up Nsé Ufot, The New Georgia Project Richard Womack, Jr., AFL-CIO

We Are All Essential: Coronavirus and Its Impact on Front-Line Workers

	Bonnie Castillo, RN, National Nurses United Tamara Lefcowitz, United Steelworkers Eduardo Peña, United Food and Commercial Workers James Ridley, Fire Fighters

Celebrating America's Frontline Workers

	Kristie Small, AFL-CIO, leads a virtual program recognizing and honors America's frontline workers durning the COVID-19 pandemic.