Chairwoman Cano to participate in AFL-CIO MLK Day Human Rights Conference

 

            STATE HOUSE – Sen. Sandra Cano, Chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, will be a panel member at the 2024 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference held in Montgomery, Alabama.  The conference will be held from January 12 to 14.

            Chairwoman Cano will participate in a panel discussion entitled “Democracy’s Front Lines: Power in Our Nation’s State Legislatures” and she will speak to the rising levels of extremism within the political process and how it has affected Rhode Island, particularly with an emphasis on how the public school system has been challenged by extremism and disinformation.

            “State legislatures are absolutely essential in the fight for workers’ rights and civil rights, and unfortunately, they are increasingly becoming the last line of defense against extremism threatening our democracy.  It’s an honor to participate in this year’s AFL-CIO MLK Civil and Human Rights Conference and I look forward to speaking about the steps Rhode Island has taken to combat extremism while protecting the rights of our residents and discussing the challenges and strategies other states have experienced over the past several turbulent years,” said Chairwoman Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket).

            For more than 25 years, the AFL-CIO’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance has brought together more than 500 trade unionists annually to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, perform community service, and examine current civil and human rights.