Civil rights leaders fire up delegates to fight authoritarianism

Civil rights leaders discussed the need to fight authoritarianism and to win the 2026 midterm election during the Human Rights Luncheon on Friday at the AFT convention.

AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus spoke to the crowd about this year's convention theme: Fighting for a Better Life for All. "It is our promise that every person, every worker, every community deserves opportunity and justice," DeJesus said.

As the Trump administration continues its attacks on vulnerable communities, AFT leaders and civil rights leaders stressed the importance of working-class people building solidarity together to create a better life for future generations.

"We got all that we need, and we got all that we have, and we are going to win this fight," AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick C. Ingram said. "We need to speak up and speak the truth about human rights, civil rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQIA and African American and Latino and Asian rights. They are all deserving of the same rights."

The crowd erupted into applause.

Stacey Abrams, the first Black woman in the U.S. to secure a major party's nomination for governor and a special guest at the luncheon, spoke about the importance of defending diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as women's, immigrant and other human rights, as they come under attack by the Trump administration.

Abrams, a vocal critic of the administration, described how authoritarianism strips power from working people and concentrates it among the wealthy few. For examples, she pointed to Trump's efforts to gut the U.S. Department of Education, strip away healthcare rights and enact state violence against immigrants.

She also shared stories of her father, who dropped out of school at age 14 and was arrested for helping register Black people to vote in Hattiesburg, Miss. Even as young as he was, Abrams' father knew how important it was for future generations to vote in elections.

Abrams fired up the crowd and encouraged them to mobilize and fight to win the 2026 midterm elections.

"We will work to mobilize to show people that it's just not lip service, it is our service and we are glad to do it," she said.

In addition, four civil rights leaders were given Drum Major for Justice Awards during the luncheon.

The award recognizes people who have dedicated their lives to civil rights, social justice and community service. The award was named after Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous 1968 sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where he said, "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice."

The awardees were Penni Simmons, executive vice president for healthcare at AFT Michigan and a rising star recipient; Arlene Inouye, a former longtime secretary for the United Teachers Los Angeles and a legacy award recipient; Juan Andrade Jr., president and co-founder of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute and a community award recipient; and Stacey Abrams, also a community award recipient.

[Alvin Buyinza/Photo credit: Pamela Wolfe]